THE FLY MENACE

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIII, Issue 3948, 28 January 1944, Page 3

THE FLY MENACE

IS THERE A CURE?

FLIES AND WAR

(By the "Town Crier") "Fiddler's dogs and flies. come to feasts unasked.''

The timely advice in Monday's issue of the "Independent" with regard to swatting flies, reminds me of William Oldy's famous lines:— "Busy, curious, thirsty fly, Drink with me, and drink as I.

Make the most of life you may. Life is short and wears away." But Oldy's hardly the man for us. He was far 100 sympathetic toward this dangerous germ-carrier. There are two things in Cambridge, however, which in my opinion help to add to this menace. One is the compost heap which we are all so busy composing and the other is the lack of a regular garbage collection service in this borough. About the compost heap little can be done. It is just another of the good things which brings evil in its train. Flies or no flies vegetables must be grown, although there may be a way of spraying such heaps with something or other which will prevent them from being breeding grounds for this household pest. With regard to the other matter, something might be done, for until

11 is, this fly mence will not grow appreciably less. ! . Insufficient care is taken: "by the average hquseholder in the disposal of refuse. By the time this cruel invader reaches the fly-paper, the damage has been done. He must be tackled at the larva stage of his brief existence. Not sufficient care is taken to keep all foodstuff's covered, and of the disposing of rubbish in such a way that it will not become a breeding ground for the musca domestic, which is the Sun-' day-go-meeting-name of the common house fly. His wife is a most prolific lady, and shortness of life is amply compensated for by the speed with which the gaps are filled in the ranks of flydom. Election Slogan.

"f will eliminate the fly menace" might not provide a very fitting slogan for a candidate in the forthcoming local government election, for by then they will all have gone [•) their secret winter hiding places or have "handed in their time," but this much is certain, the common fly takes a larger toll of life than war. Because his attack is so insidious, he is the more to be feared. Like every other pest, it must be tackled at its source. Get busy on breeding grounds, as is done with mosquito extermination in tropical areas. The proper collection and disposal of garbage would be more than one s.ep in the right direction.