FIGHTING THE FRUIT FLY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2466, 2 April 1909, Page 2

FIGHTING THE FRUIT FLY.

Mr. Kirk, Government Biologist, is a man •with a healthy sense of humor, and he must therefore be amused by the efforts of “practical men”.to instruct him and his stair. The regulations framed some time ago to protect New Zealand against the terrible Mediterranea'n fruit-fly are to apply now to the Cook Islands, which have enjoyed a period of exemption ; grace, and straightway, importers, chiefly an Auckland, are telling the careful departmental experts that they do not know their business. The objectors say that there is no fruit-fly in the Cook Islands, and if there is a fly in the.sunny archipelago it is >a gentle, harmless creature. Henc© it is represented that the officials are toO officious, and are enemies rather than friends of New Zealand; However, notwithstanding the allegations of the “practical men,” the experts are not. altogether ignorant of the means ne r cessary to keep out the much-dreaded ; pest, and they do know that the Medlcrranean fly is working on the Cook Islands, though the . insect has mot yet secured an overpowering grip. »till, its mere presence there justifies the enforcement of rigid regulations to stay the spread of infection, to.this country, for it is. notorious, that the fly AS- a . wonderful, propagator. In the past the Agricultural Department' has taken steps called “drastic” to exterminate the 1 fly !after it entered New Zealand via Auckland (by the gentle suasion there inducing a relaxation of rules), and some people, thinking only oh the present gam and oblivious to Uittuf havoc, -expostulated much and loudly, bote. time" proved; the .cUpartnub ;i .wmhrt prefer ■ in.,tk-a rt.se -rt-

on the judgment of-Mr. Kirk rather than on the notions’of shortsighted importers.—Wellington “Poet.”