UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS

Shannon News, 11 June 1929, Page 1

UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS

TROPICAL MOSQUITOES. ALSO PROM AUSTRALIA FOUND ON OVERSEAS STEAMERS. It is disquieting to know that mosquitoes have been found on boats arriving in Auckland from Calcutta, Singapore, and Sydney. As most people arc uncomfortably aware, the Auckland climate seems particularly favourable for the mosquito. The research officer #£ the Mosquito Research Committee £M'r. D. It. Graham), who has done such a lot: jo draw attention to breeding places of these pests in and around the city, has also done a lot of, work in the North Auckland district, where the mosquito lias a deteriorating effect on the dairy stock —a fact which may, if not attended to, discount the benefits of the wonderfully mild climate enjoyed up there. But in all his searches t.iqi officer has not come across the deadly malaria-carrying Anopheles, which one might well expect to find in the Far North. In reports lie has made one finds that he has discovered in. the Waipoua Forest and other'localities- a species that is a relation of the yellow-fever mosquito, but so far no disease-carrying kinds have actually been found here.

The next thing to do is to see that no disease-carriers come into the country. Many people would scout the idea of a mosquito liviug on board ship long enough to make the journey to New Zealand from overseas. But that complacent view has been upset according to the statement of a health official. During the past few days, Mr. Graham has been conducting searches on overseas steamers arriving in the port, and I-quite recently mosquitoes have been found on boats from ports as far away as Calcutta, and Singapore. After that it is not surprising that the last Svdncy steamer the Mauxtgauui, should have a few on board. As everybody knows malaria is quite common in Queensland, and there is no reason why a few of the carriers should, not drift further south, to Sydney, and so find tlieir way over to the ■Dominion. Once - the malaria-carrier got his fangs into people and stock in the North Auckland peninsula, with ite sub-tropical climate) it would be a bad day for this part of New' Zealand. Nothing saps the energy of a people so surely as malaria, and thousands of New Zealanders who served in Palestine know it to their cost. Whcu inos--ciuitoes can 1 reach ■ Auckland on boat--coming from Sydney, from Singapore, and even as far away as Calcutta, it is time the problem of keeping them out was tackled by someone. At present the matter of dealing with the problem seems rather in the air, and it is doubtful whether tlic authorities have fully, grasped the gravity of the situation.