The Flax Grub in Horowhenua.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 December 1915, Page 3

The Flax Grub in Horowhenua.

■DliiPUlAilON 10 AilXl&TJStt OF AGIUOILTURE. Ou Wednesday afternoon last Mr \\. H Field., introduced to tho Minister t»t Agriculture a deputation ot ilaxunllen* representing the N. £. FlaxuaUers Association, with the object of arriving, it possible, at some method oi combating the flax grub.pest, which seriously threatens the neinp industry, a-iu which 'has assumed eonous propoitioo* during the past year or two. Mr JJ'. S. Pope, Secretary for Agn-

culture, and Mr \\. H. Ferris, Chisi Fibre Export, were also present. iMr Field reminded the Minister that he had drawn attention to this matter in the House last Session, and Had since received a letter from the Minister suggesting that an export should) be appointed, to make a thorough inveati-gatiwir-and recommend a remedy, aiu. k-Wlting the Association to juakc khj:gestions on the matter. Mr Dielu mentioned that Mr Cockayne,, Government Biologist, had recently done a large amount ol useful research w0; , .; affecting the flax moth, and had reported in favour of the employment ->i au expert to more fully investigate. The destructive grub of this moth, Sir Field! said, had been present in onr flax ewampe for many years, and it sometime* was worse tihaa. othors. Recently, however, it had become more eerious than ever, as tho result, probably, or the gradual drying of the ewamps, and the destruction of tuo Weka, Pukeko, and other Native grub devouring birds. One effective remedy would be to periodically flood the ewamps, but this would be in eome oeew difficult and expensive, and in others impossible. Some other remedy j must therefore be eought. He noticed that recently Mr Goss, of Shannon, had invented a device by which a bright light could begenerated to attraot the moths, which would then be suction be drawn into a receptacle and 60 destroyed. This seemed very ingenious, aad a demonstration oi it was to be given at an early date. If it had proved a success there mas no reason why it should not also be usea for the destruction of the codlin moth in orchards. Mr Goss's invention would oertainly appear to merit a trial. a

it proved a failure the next beet course Touid appear to be the appointment ot sucn an expert as had ueeu suggested, and. he felt sure tiie millers would assist in the matter of the payment ->j that gent'emau's salary. Mr i'ield strongly urged that tliu matter should not be long delayed, i-& the damage to the green leaf oauseu by the grub was already naviug a serious effect ou the quality of our hem;,, and was deterring growers planting, and in tome cases, irom saving aax already growing. In normal tim«;s nine-tentht. oi tiie hemp exporteu irom the Dominion was niilledi m the Atanawatu, and therefore the deputation might be said to be representative n< the whole industry. Mr lliggiusou, as Chairman of the Association, said that he telt sure tho niillers would willingly pay the salary of the expert, in the same way ae th•:/ had met the Uovernmeut in the past over proposals ior the beneht of the induetry. Messrs A. and L. Sietert suppor'.uc Mr Higginson, and showed that owing to tho distructiveness of the fiax grui> not only was the quality or the neaip seriously affected, but it now took a considerably larger quantity of greon leaf to produce a ton of hemp than wan formerly the case.

.Mr Ferris also described how the quality of the hemp was deteriorating and eaid that if the peet were not kept under the industry must suffer very eeverely. In reply, the Minister expressed his pleasure at meeting the deputation, and his satisfaction at the readiness of the miller* to put their hands in their pockets to a&sist the Government In fighting the pest. He "pointed out that the Government had already done a •great deal to assist the industry, an-i wae prepared to do still more, recognising the great importance of flaxmilJing t<) the country, and. the quantity of labour it employed. .He promised to go fully into the matter without delay and communicate to Mr Field the decision arrived at, which would no doubt be to appoint a higlily qualified mid who would practically five in the Bwampe for a time, and make a thorough study of the subject. fle had not in his mind an available and suitable man in the Dominion, and themlore it would appear to be necessary tt> look abroad for one: In answer to a question by Mr Field, the Secretary of Agriculture said that Mr Cockayne -would be the very best wan tor the purpose, but that he could not be epared from the other important work he was doing for the Department. The deputation expressed, through Mr Field, their satisfaction at the Minieter'i reply.