CANNOT CONFINE THE FLY.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1401, 8 September 1923, Page 6

CANNOT CONFINE THE FLY.

FLIGHT RANGE TOO BIG

It has been proved by experiments at Trentham that the fly a daily flying range of a mile, perhaps more, in his excursions between his feeding ground and breeding ground. If this is so, does it matter much whether a shop selling unprotected foodstuffs is 50 yards or 150 yards from f stable where flies are allowed to breed? To fight an insect with s ich a range of flight, is it not necessary to banish stables right out ui bound!*, or else to create at the stables sue! 1 , conditions that the fly cannot breed there? The Sanitation Committee of the Health Week organisation in Wellington, which committee considered the question last Tuesday evening, leaned towards the latter course. It was argued that if the manure was regularly sprayed, it became not merely a non-breeding place for flies, but a death-trap for those flies that did enter the manure bin at the stable. Then arose the question: "If spraying is death to flies, is it necessary to have a fly-proof lid to the stable manure bin?" It was admitted that, even in stables where such lid exists, it was seldom fly-proof. "As spraying is effective why worry about the lid?" asked a member. "That, is all right," came the answer, "provided y*ou can depend on the spraying being done. But if you can't, surely you need a second precaution in the shape of a proper manure bin with a proper lid." Then someone found another weak spot in the spraying precaution. Certain people who failed to spray had been brought before a Magistrate, who refused to convict because the defendants pleaded that the spraying mixture was unprocurable. On this statement comment was made by another member, who stated that there were a number of suitable spraying mixtures, and that the first oil (called Xo. 1 light oil) given off in the distillation of coal tar was quite effective. The committee decided to recommend the Health Week executive to ask the City Council to keep a stock of the spraying material, in view of the Magistrate's acceptance of the above-mentioned plea. There are 168 stables in Wellington. The Trentham observations of flyflight were, it was stated, made during the Trentham encampment by Professor Kirk. who .observed the movements of flies, as between the military stables and the pig farm, by spraying flies, either at the stables or the farm, with a very fine whitewash, and by trapping them in a fly trap at the other end. The Sanitation Committee decided to advise the Health Week executive on several other important matters. This committee and the Districts Control Committee are now busy. Health Week is the first week in October.