QUEENSLAND FRUIT FLY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2030, 15 March 1907, Page 3

QUEENSLAND FRUIT FLY.

A special meeting of tho Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association (reports the H.B. Herald) was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Hastings, on Saturday afternoon,, to consider what steps should be taken to prevent the spreading . of the Queensland fruit fly. Mr E. H. Williams occupied the chair, and, in opening tlio meeting, said that the discovery of tlio Queensland fruit fly maggot had been made in a crop of peaches from a Napier orchard. He immediately wired to both Mr McNab and Mr Kirk, and had received the following replies:—From Mr McNab : “Re fruit fly, extremely regret that this pest appears to have got a hold in our country. ‘ Will take every step to try and cope with it before another season makes it widespread among our fruit orchards.” From Mr Kirk: “Have Instructed Boucher to take energetic steps. .Recommended change Auckland wharf some time ago.” A resolution was then moved calling oil the Government rigidly to inspect every orchard and garden in Hawke’s Bay; also to pick and destroy all existing fruits and tomatoes in Napier immediately, and from time to time rigidly to inspect all shops in the district and to destroy all infected fruit therein; also to alter the inspection of fruit imported into the colony, especially at Auckland; and expressing the opinion that the only chance of preserving tho growing fruit industry of the colony was absolutely to prohibit the importation of fruit from fly-infected districts into New Zealand. This was carried, and it was also decided “That this meeting place on record its appreciation of Mr D. H. Williamson’s energy in dealing with the fruit fly and other orchard posts. Tile Government pomologist (Mr W. A. Boucher) arrived in Hastings on Monday morning in connection with the appearance of the fruit fly in Napier. He left during the afternoon in company with the orchard inspector; to visit the infected orchard and decide what steps should he taken to combat the pest. In Mr Boucher’s opinion, it would he better to let tlio fly do its work, and destroy the fruit when attacked. He does not think the resolution passed on Saturday to destroy all existing fruit in Napier a good one, for, if that were done, the fly would he compelled to go elsewhere. While there is fruit in Napier the fly will not remove its quarters.