The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1896. ORCHARD AND GARDEN PESTS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 37, 12 August 1896, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1896. ORCHARD AND GARDEN PESTS.

A Bill has been prepared by the Hon Mr McKenzie, which, if passed by the House, and its provisions rigidly carried into effect, ought to prove of considerable value to the colony. Its intention ii; to prevent the introduction of diseases or pests which injuriously operate against fiuit culture. After indicating the powers to be given to the officials whose duty it will be to carry out the Act, Clause 6 provides that any plant, fungus, parasite, insect or any other thing which is in any way introduced or attempted to be intro duced into the colony in contravention | of the Act, may be seized, disinfected, or destroyed, or otherwise disposed of as the Inspector deems fit, at the expense of the owner, and without compensation. Any person who keeps or sells or exposes the plants unlawfully introduced commits an offence against the Act, and may be punished accordingly. What appears to be the best and most useful prevision is contained i in Clause 8, ivhieh says: -The owner or occupier of any orchard or garden on which no disease has previously been found shall, within twenty four hours after first discovering or becoming aware of the presence of &ny disease, give written notice thereof to the Minister, at Wellington. Clause 9 ! provides that Inspectors may enter on any conveyance, land o*" premises, or on board any vessel, for tbe purpose of inspecting plants, or the packages con- , taining the same, or with which the' some may have come in contact, and shall have all such powers aad authorities (including power to dig up plants, open packages and otherwise) as they \ deem necessary for enabling them to enforce the provisions of the Act. Should it be necessary the Inspector shall give notice to the owner or person batring charge of the plants $p do

such acts as are necessary to eradicate \ or check the progress of the disease. If at any time disease exists on any land being an orchard or garden, or } among the plants there growing, the owner shall be notified of the same ' and the Minister may declare such j | land to be an infected place within j ! the meaning of the Act. Tlie penalty j i for offending against the Act is a fine . of not less than twenty shillings nor more than £100. The pests scheduled are apple scab, potato fungus, Codlin ; moth, American blight and phylloxera, j