SANDFLIES

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1928, Page 1

SANDFLIES

PROGRESS LEAGUE’S DISCUSSION CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 2. Those who have had the good fortune to visit the Milford Track, Stewart Island, and certain South Island lakes know, from bitter experience, what misery can be caused them by the attention of sandflies, which are to be found .in myriads where there is a combination of hush and water. "While it is a fact that some people who live in such districts appear to he more or less immune from the lutes of the insects, on the other hand visitors are often caused such annoyance and pain from them as to declare that they will never return so long as the pests aro allowed to exist. Air A. F. AVright, of Christchurch, who has been a victim of the insects, forwarded a letter to the executive of the Canterbury Progress League last night on the subject, in which he urged that steps should he taken to deal with these pests. Inter alia, he wrote, “It seems to me that however much we might seek to increase our tourist traffic there will always he a very grave harrier in the way unless the sandfly nuisance is overcome. 1 would like your league to consider whether it could not make ropresentafions to, say, the Cawthrou Institute (which has done such valuable research work) to see whether a report could he obtained from them on the matter.” The letter laid the sympathetic, consideration of members, some of whom related painful experience with sandflies.

It was decided to thank Air Wright for his letter, and on the motion of Air C. TT. Clibborn. it was resolved to approach the Government to ascertain if the Governmenifc entomologist was moving in the mater of eradicating the sandfly. ‘