THE Pukekohe and waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1916 THE ONE-TREE ORCHARD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 221, 27 October 1916, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1916 THE ONE-TREE ORCHARD.

" We nothing extenuate, not "down auA in madice."

There appears to be some doubt as to whether the Department of Agriculture has any legal authority for its action in insisting upon the registration of one-tree " orchards." The tenor of the official statement recently sent out from Wellington is that the registration is required as a means of assisting the Department to stamp out orchard pests. The object in view is wholly commendable. The eradication of pests from private gardens as from commercial orchards is a consummation greatly to be desired. But objection is taken to the Department's proceduie because the compilation of a bulky register will not help but hinder inspection ; because it involves enormous labour for no purpose ; and because it renders thousands of people liable to a heavy fine for failing to make an annual statement of facts which are under the eye and observation of every orchard inspector. Already the Department's methods have been found wanting. In Auckland the registration forms have run out whilst in the country, where the bulk of fruit trees naturally abound, no forms have been supplied, as might have been expected, to the local post offices which would be the natural place for their distnbution on application Consequently the country householder is put to the unnecessary trouble of writing to the Department of Agriculture at Wellington or to the Orchard Inspector at Otahuhu for a form on which to make his return. Is it, however, likely that the Department has a staff sufficiently large available to make up a return of the registrations when received or will they be any guide to the Orchard Inspector for the district if they ever reach his hands ? A house-to-house call on the part of the Inspector would best meet the object aimed at and householders would probably welcome advice and instructions given from an expert quarter. But is it likely that one Inspector could by any possible manner of means carry out an examination of all the gardens or orchards in his district ? Complaints are general that the Babbit Inspector in this part of the country is rarely seen in places that are badly infested with the vermin but it is recognised that the area of country which he controls from Auckland is far too wieldly for him to adequately perform bis duties. The work expected from the Babbit Inspector is, however, " child's play" as compared with the far greater labours that will be cast on the Orchard Inspector and consequently the new regulations look likely to become a dead-letter except that householders are being harassed to make a return that will be of little, if any, ultimate value. I I