ORCHARD PESTS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2085, 10 January 1908, Page 3

ORCHARD PESTS

ACT TO BE STRICTLY ENFORCED GIVER OF DISEASED FRUIT LIABLE TO FINE. LARGE AREA UNDER FRUIT. Press Association. WELLINGTON, January 9. Tho reported decision of tho Biological Department to onfoco with strictness the penal clause of tlio Act relating to diseased fruit of Now Zealand growth has caused something of a stir. For tho'guidance of any who may lie unaware of the fact it is mentioned that the gift of diseased fruit makes tho giver liable to a penalty just as much ns a seller would he—“ Anybody concerned in the distribution of diseased fruit,” are tlio terms of tlio Act. “It lias becomo absolutely necessary to administer tho penal clauses strictly,” said Dir, Kirk, chief of tho Biological Department to a “Post” reporter to-day. “There have been three years of warning given to the orchardists and to permit o(fences to continue now would he unfair to careful growers and unwise from a commercial point of view. A great deal of money has been invested in orchard properties, and to allow such a pest as tho Mediterranean fruit flv to establish itself hero would be ruinous. There is now an area of 27,515 acres under orchard cultivation within New Zealand and this is increasing at the rate of 7<lo acres a year. Tn this estimate no cognisance is taken of any area less than a quarter of an aero and the lands under tomato crop are also left out. A commercial orchard in bearing should, it is stated, never give a return of less than £3O an mere and on this basis it will he seen that the Department is charged with the interests of an industry wirth C 755,450 per annum.