The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1892. AGRICULTURAL LEGISLATION THE CODLIN MOTH BILL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2827, 19 November 1892, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1892. AGRICULTURAL LEGISLATION THE CODLIN MOTH BILL.

Perhaps no country in the world is better suited for the growth in perfection of that most useful of all fruits— albeit originally, according to Genesis in the beginning of the history of the Adamite race, the most disastrous to humanity—the apple; and while our orchards are capable of producing infinitely more fruit than will suffice for our own consumption, it is satisfactory to know that the markets of the Old World are capable of absorbing all the surplus we can export, and at prices which, with good management, can be made amply remunerative to the growers. It is only within the past few years that the large possibilities in the way of an export fruit trade from New Zealand have been generally recogDised, and in view of the enormous returns derived by other countries or states—notably California—'from this source it is surely the part of true statesmanship to endeavour to remove as far as may be every hinderance to the development of so promising an industry. By the common consent of orchardistf, among the chief of these hfndcrances is the prevalence of insect ppsfc?, whigh need to be fought with and, if possible, exterminated, and of these none has been so destructive a^ the codlin moth— Carpocapsa pornonella. Its ravages in Tasmania have been so great that legislation becaaae necessary, and for years past in that colony phe Agripultural Depaitment has made as strenupus eftbrts to keep it in check, if not to stamp it out," as have been made in connection with the sheep industry in all the colonies to get rid of that curse of the pasfcoralisfcs —the scab, the product of another insect scourge. And during the past three or four years there has been a demand for similar legislation in New Zealand, but although a, B.UI or Bills have been, from time to time, intrcs duced, there have been differences of opinion as to their provisions which have hitherto prevented their reaching tho Statute Book, The Hon Mr M'Kenzie f therefore, has taken a very wise course in merely introu*JC!Ps a B,ill Jast session with a view lo^its .circulation during the recess in order that he may gather the opinions of all interested upon its proposals, and so shape it for next session into a generally saisfactory and workable measure, That Bill is now before us. Let us see what it contains, Firs.t of all it enables the Governor to prohibit tho importation of fruit or fruit trees from any country or colony infected with fruit disease. # Next it empowers him to divide New Zealand into fruit districts, to appoint inspectors, and to declare which are infected codlin moth districts and which are clean cocllinmoth districts. No district may be decked clean until twelve months after a clean certificate has been received from the (Ghief tn^p cc 't orj District Inspector, or District Board, during which twelve months no appearance of the moth has been detected. For each fruit district a Distrjejb B,oard of five members is to be elected by ibhp fpuffc growers, the members holding office for tsyo ypars. Ihese Boards wiH have ppwep py appoint a Secretary, a Collector, a

1 Treasurer, and a District Inspector or Inspectors; the Chief Inspector for the colony being appointed by the Governor in Council. If the District Board refuses or neglects to carry out the provisions of the Act efficiently, it may be superseded by officers appointed by the Governor, who is also empowered to prescribe regulations for the guidance of Boards and their officers and for prescribing the manner and times for bandaging, dressing or otherwise treating infected trees, for destroying infected fruit, etc. Large powersare conferred upon theinspectors, and the Boards aie required to make and keep rolls of all fruitgrowers in their respective districts, the latter being re quired to make annual returns showing the number of acres under fruit held by; each, with the number of each description of fruit tree, and the condition of such trees—whether clean or infected. To defray the expenses of working the Act the Boards may levy annually a " contribution " not exeeed- \ ing two shillings per half-acre or part thereof on every orchard within the district." This will certainly not prove a serious burden on any fruit-grower, and it is here we think a difficulty will occur as the proceeds of such a " contribution " will, in some districts, be not nearly sufficient to meet the cost of paying the Inspector and other necessary expenses All nurseries are to be inspected annually, and all found unclean are to be gazetted as such, and all found clean are to receive a clean certificate. Nurseries reported infected with "mussel-scale," "redspider," "woolly aphis" or "phylloxera" are to be quarantined for a year, and any owner of a quarantined nursery sending out trees or vines without a permit is liable to a penalty of from £10 to £20. Penalties are also imposed upon orchard-owners for not giving notice of the presence of codlin moth to the Inspector, for removing infected fruit from place to place within the Colony, or for selling infected fruit or exposing it for sale, and ell such penalties may be recovered in a summary way before a Resident Magistrate or two Justices of the Peace. There are a great many other minor provisions, but the foregoing will give a fair idea of the general seojfe of the Bill which is to, be proceeded with next session and will pro-1 bably with some modifications and improvements find its way to the Statute Book.