Tt. W.'KIRK.

1.—12.

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86. Hon. Mr. T. Kelly.] What condition was this orchard in—the three acres —when you took it over? —Just about as bad as it could possibly be. 87. It was an old orchard?— Yes. 88. You say the object of the Government in- taking over this orchard was to demonstrate how the codlin-moth could be done away with ?—Yes. 89. So far as the American blight is concerned, is that plentiful in the colony ?—Yes; it is pretty well scattered. 90. Is kerosene-spray used?— Yes; combined with soap or milk. It is successful in many cases. 91. Hon. Mr. Duncan.] Can you say what improvement this Bill would make if it passed ? —It would do this :in the first instance, it would protect those people who are going in for orchards, with the object of working them on a commercial basis ; and it is, in my opinion, the foundation-stone on which the export trade of the colony must rest if it is to be carried to a success. You cannot expect people to go in for commercial orchards unless they are protected from their careless neighbours. 92. How would it affect the Auckland orchardist whose orchards are affected at the present time ?—lt would simply mean that he could adopt any measures he chose to keep his moth down. A number of Auckland people got disheartened some years ago in trying to suppress the moth. Many of them did not fully understand spraying. In many cases I have found orchardists departing from the instructions laid down. Instead of using the proper quantity of chemicals they have used more, even double the amount, in order, as they say, to kill the moth right out. 93. It is stated generally by the Auckland representatives that this Bill is going to kill the small fruit-growers in Auckland ? —I do not think it would do so. At all events, there is the clause in the Act dealing with the exemption of any county. 94. But suppose the Bill passed without the clause? —I think that in the course of two or three years they would say it was the best thing they had done. For instance, Tasmania would not be able to export the million cases of apples now talked of if it were not for their Act. 95. You think the Bill would be beneficial?—l am sure of it. They cannot do without it in other countries, and I am certain we cannot do without it here. 96. Mr. Latvry.] Has the Department ever considered,whether we could find a market to export our fruit to?—We can get a very good price for our fruit at certain times of the year in London. 97. Do you know if it paid to send the fruit to London ?—Yes ; there was a trial shipment, on which the Government agreed to guarantee Id. per pound, but they were never called upon to pay it. 98. That was an experiment ?—Yes; and therefore did not get on the market as well as other continuous shipments would. 99. In your experiments have you found that spraying has a tendency to destroy the natural enemy ? —I do not think the natural enemy is worth discussing. 100. I want to know whether spraying has a tendency to destroy the natural enemy?—lt would have the effect of checking it. 101. But would it not poison the natural enemy?— No. 102. Then it would destroy the moth without destroying the enemy ?—Yes ; it would do that, because the natural enemy is inside the egg. One species lives inside the egg, and another inside the grub of the codlin-moth, but neither of them in sufficient quantities to be of much practical use. 103. Is the Committee to understand that spraying does not destroy the natural enemy, but only destroys its food, the moth-grub, and so starves it out? —Yes; you can put it that way. 104. Then, in putting a thin coating of poison on the fruit to poison the codlin-moth does not the natural enemy eat that poison ?—No ; the natural enemy is predaceous, and eats the grub. 105. I would like to ask you, Mr. Kirk, if there has been any general demand from the orchardists in this country for the Bill ?—I think the papers were submitted to the Committee a year or two ago, and, excepting Auckland and a small portion of Nelson, they were in favour of having the conditions of the Bill passed. 106. And now the only opposition is really from Auckland?— Yes. 107. I understand there is a clause in this Bill which makes it permissible in Auckland ?— Yes. 108. And if Auckland realises at any time that it would be to their advantage to come in, they could do so ?—Yes. 109. Hon. the Ghairmnn.] You spoke about canning : were you referring to a canning plant being established by the Government ?—No ; I was referring to the co-operative canning-works. 110. Are they general now in the country—the canning-works ?■—No ; some of them belong to private individuals, but there are two co-operative works at present. 111. Are there any in Nelson?— Yes, one in Motueka. 112. If the spraying is not regulated, does the codlin-moth get an opportunity of increasing?—Fruits do not all come along at the same time, and some varieties are not so liable to be attacked by the moth as others, and do not need spraying so often. 113. But the general practice is to spray the whole orchard ?—Yes ; but some varieties more than others. 114. Hon. Mr. T. Kelly.] With regard to climate and soil in New Zealand, which are the best districts with regard to climate ?—That is a difficult question to answer. It depends so much upon the class of fruit you wish to grow. Portions of the Bay of Plenty are almost ideal, but there are many localities throughout the colony admirably adapted. 115. Mr. Hogg.] Do you think the small-bird complaint has any influence in keeping down the codlin-moth?—Very little.