FIGHTING OF PESTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 22 November 1927, Page 5

FIGHTING OF PESTS

DR. TILLYARD SORRY TO LEAVE

NEW ZEALAND.

WORK IN AUSTRALIA

“I shall be very sorry to leave the cawthron Institute—it is a heartbreaking business, and I shall be very sorry to leave New Zealand.”

Dr. R, J. Tillyard, who has accepted the position of Australian Commonwealth Entomologist, made the above remark to an AuAland “Sun” representative on his return by the Niagara yesterday on his “ay back to Nelson.

He has been associated with the Dominion for so long that he feels the break very much but as he says himself, he would be very silly to refuse the wonderful offer made to him b v the Australian Government. Australia has made four attempts to obtain the services of ’ '-e Doctor, the fourth being successful.

Dr. Tillyard said vesteruay morning that he will be leaving for Australia to take over his new position in March. There is a clause in hie agreement which will enable him to return to New Zealand once a year to watch the work in the noxious weeds research department of the Cawthron Institute.

The Doctor travelled arross from Sydney with the Right Hon, I, M. Arnerv and has made arrangements for the Secretary of State for Hi* Dominions to christen the new wint of the Institute when he visits Nelson. ' The name has Been chosen, but it is a profound secret. Speaking of his work In connection with noxious weeds research Dr. Tiltyard said that he has an insect pest which will combat the blackberry but the tests have not yet been finished.

He is almost certain ot suocess, however. He has also discovered something which will prevent the gorse from seeding and which win be of inestimable value to New zeaiana.

“1 think the ragwort grul> will do wonders,” he continued. “We found it at, Leona Gatha. in Queensland. The grub eats into the stems of rhe ragwort and causes a rot which ultimately destroys it.” In Australia, Dr. Tillyard will carry out research work in combating the blowfly, the cnttlefiv the St. John’s wort and other noxious weeds, the underground grass grub which l.e says is particularly bad in Tasmania, and the thnpps and other fruit and crop pests. Dr. Tillyard save that he is to organise the whole of the entomological research for Australia. There will bo a large central research station at Canberra, which will form one of the first units of the post graduate University of Canberra. An area of 200 acres has been selected there for the new university, and there will be a wide-world competition for the design. Dr. Tillyard hopes to pet some of the best men in the Empire for his. staff. He is to be given complete charge of the arrangements. He told the Australian authorities that he would not accept the olfe- unless ho could do what he wanted to.