THE CODLIN MOTH ACT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2286, 5 March 1887, Page 2

THE CODLIN MOTH ACT.

The hon, secretary of the Waikato Horticultural Society has received the following letter from a settler at Te Awamutu which, as it un-doubtedly embodies tho sentiments of rr.any other fruit growers, will be read with interest: — Re proposed Codlin Moth Act, if I recollect rightly in the Act drafted last year by the Waikato Horticultural Society it was proposed to throw the whole cost of working the Act upon orchardists. Now I think, and many others share my opinion, that this is a grave mistake. Take the case of Acts for the prevention and cure of any other form of contagious or epidemic disease—say the Diseased Cattle Act (for the prevention of pleuro pneumonia) though the introduction of pleuro be the result of only a few persons' act, yet the whole cost of averting or stamping out the disease is borne by the public revenue; so also without regard to horses, dogs, and last, but not least, human beings, tho introduction of certain forms of contagious and highly dangerous diseases, though only the act of a few individuals is yet invariably met by united efforts, that is by the public funds of the colony being used to combat and expel them. Now the introduction of such insect pests as the codlin moth is not by any means of such circumscribed nature. Importers, general dealerers, fruiterers, and others are all active agents in introducing and scattering the pests wholesale, nay, the population of the centres by the popular outcry for cheap fruit become, in my opinion, equally responsible agents in the matter. I look upon it therefore as eminently unjust to the orchardist, tho inception of any measure that, while allowing the more culpable portion of the community to get off soot-free would yet saddle him with a burden which the whole of the inhabitants should equally bear, and I trust that in any future measure that may be initiated for the suppression of such insect pests this principle should Jit least be its groundwork. Orchardists are surely willing and anxious enough to get rid of such pests, and will be ready to do their full share, but to act on the lines laid down last year would be most unfair.

[The Act referred to above was modeled on tho lines of the Sheep Act. The committee of the society were of opinion that there would be less opposition in Parliament to the bill if it provided funds locally to carry out operations than there would be if it had been proposed to take the money out of the Consolidated Fund. The main object kept in view by them was the speedy and effectual suppression of the pest.—Ed.]