SYSTEM AT FAULT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 116, 19 May 1933, Page 8

SYSTEM AT FAULT

QUARANTINE CONTROL. THE WHITE BUTTER ELY. The entrance of the cabbage while butterfly into New Zealand, and its subsequent rapid and alarming spread, was quoted in an address by Dr. D. Miller, of tho Cawthron Institute, Nelson, as an example of the inadequate quarantine system prevailing in the Dominion. “The expansion of world transport,” he said, “with its resultant spread of destructive insects, has led the more enlightened countries to establish a rigid system of quarantine and port inspection against invasion by undesirable insects and diseases, lu New Zealand, where perhaps we are lulled into a position of false, security by our geographic isolation, which is no lunger an isolation, or where perhaps scientific evidence, is meeting the same blind opposition as did Lord Lister in his advocation of antiseptics, no effective steps are taken to protect the Dominion from many insect scourges yet to come to our shores. “A most spectacular example which has drawn to it more universal public attention than any other insect in the history of this country is the cabbage white butterfly, which within three years of its appearance at Napier had spread throughout most of the North Island. If there !ad been an efficient quarantine service this insect would never have had the opportunity of overspreading the country as it has done. The destructive potentialities of the butterfly are enormous, and if extensive attacks are made upon the turnip and rape crops of the Dominion the situation will be very serious, especially in regard to the dairying and sheep industries.

“I have frequently stressed that the question of an adequate quarantine and inspection service in New Zealand is a matter for urgent attention. At present we have a system of port inspection totally unfitted for modern requirements. We Jag far behind in this important branch of plant protection. We may liken our position to that of a well-provisioned but under-garrisoned fort where civilians find shelter; . but though the protection of the civilians from the enemies that have managed to gair a footing is left to the trained garrison, the duty of repelling further invasions has been placed iu the hands of the. untrained civilians, f am not criticising the men in charge? of our present system; T condemn the system itself as prae.tieally useless.”