Fighting the Blowflies.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 14 August 1914, Page 7

Fighting the Blowflies.

The blow-fly pest in sheep continues to give trouble in Australia. The loss every year has been set down at an enormous suni, but there is the prospect in addition that it is increasing each year in virulence. How can its numbers be checked ? The only way to face a danger of this sort is to make a campaign of attack complete, and that cannot be accomplished without compulsory legislation. When this is talked about there is a percentage of the producers who associate the step with tyranny and interference with the liberty of the subject. The fact is that all legislation is really aimed at the man who will not do his duty to himself and his country. It is found that in New South Wales there is a sum of £.4000 in the hands of a hoard originally appointed to assist the stockowners, and this money will now be devoted to research work. This will be a help, of course, but all the time thin the scientist is on the job, the fly is increasing. When some of the stock boards proposed that the dipping of sheep should be made compulsory in New South Wales, as it is in Victoria, and South Australia, to fight against the various parasites to which the .wool sheep is heir, there were, boards who refused to agree. There can. be no justification for this conservative attitude. Dipping is necessary to the welfare of the industry, and those who fail to see how essential it is should be compelled by law to do the right thing. The legislation required for the fly should be introduced at once, for the spread is due to others besides tho pastoraiists. Undoubtedly the most prolific source is the rabbit trapper, who, when hunting for skins only, simply leaves the carcase where he takes off the pelt. The whole question is of great importance. But the Labour government in oflicu soes more urgency in the trivial quarrels between capital and labour. There is no doubt that tho best way to attack the fly would lie by destroying all the offal after the flies have blown it. It has been shown that a cheap spray is ofi'ective when properly applied.