AIRPLANES FOR INSECTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 493, 24 October 1928, Page 15

AIRPLANES FOR INSECTS

POISONING FOREST PESTS FORESTRY EXPERTS ENTERTAINED How airplanes and “candles” are used to keep down the insect pests which cause tremendous damage to the forests of Canada was described by Dr. Swaine, of that Dominion, at the luncheon of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Lord Clinton was to be tlic guest of honour, but he had to go to Wellington. He sent a letter of apology. The president of the Chamber. Air. 11. T, Merritt, introduced the guests who were all metnbers of the Forestry Commission. “Speaking commercially, this is one of the most important visits ever made to New Zealand,” he said. Dr. Swaine, the first speaker, outlined the history of the Forestry Commission, saying that the next one was to be held in South Africa in five years’ time. The last one, held in Canada, had awakened the interest of the people in forestry conservation. “We have seen your beautiful native forests.” he said, “and we hope you will be able to preserve them permanently not only for their beauty but for their splendid timber.” He complimented the Dominion on the steps taken to have a supply of soft woods. HEALTHY PLANTATIONS From his point of view the Rotorua plantations were “monotonously healthy,” few of the pests having been imported from America and Europe. Methods of poisoning these pests included the distribution of poison powder by airplanes over thousands of square miles, and it was hoped that in the next few” years that the insects would be under control. Experiments i were also being conducted with arsenic J candles, which were burnt under the ! trees. Along with other fishermen of the party the speaker said he had stood by the waters of Taupo and wept at not being able to put over a fly. He had been safely conducted to “gates of Hell” by Maori maidens. He thanked the Chamber for the hospitality, saying that the 40 members of the conference had very pleasant memories of New Zealand* Air. A. C. Forbes. Director of Forestry in the Irish Free State, said in i a humorous speech that Ireland regarded New Zealand as a competitor on the London market in butter, lamb and cheese. Ho said he had no objection to New Zealand butter —it reminded him of something they made from cream in Ireland. The big increase in cats in his country he described to the importation of Dominion lamb. Ho had great admiration for the kauri, one of the biggest of trees with a bole like an artificial column. New Zealand, he thought, would become because of its soil and climate, the biggest producer of temperately-grown woods in the Southern Hemisphere. He urged that the doing away with the sheep would give mor«« land for forestry work. Sir George Fowlds moved a vote of thanks, saying that the visit must stimulate forestry work in the Doj minion.