THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CODLIN MOTH ACT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2475, 22 May 1888, Page 2

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CODLIN MOTH ACT.

TO THE EDITOR. . Sat, —The proposed amendment to this measure, making its working compulsory instead of optional, as at present, and compelling orchardists to bear the whole expense of its working is a measure, the scope of which, in all its bearings, has scarcely been contemplated, even by its framers. That fruit-growers should be compelled to pay an enormous annual tax for the suppression of an evil of which they are tiio victims rather than the authors is surely a proposition monstrously unjust, for while importers and retailers of fruit, and even the general public who consumo it, are continually spreading the grubs broadcast through the country, the unfortunate orchardist is condemned, Sisyphus-like, to the perpetual task of combating an ever-recurring evil he is powerless to prevent. Of course, certain clauses in the Act would imply that every safeguard will be taken to make its operations successful, but any experienced fruit-grower knows that nothing short of the absolute prohibition of imported fruit, the proclaiming every district in the colony infected, and the taking of vigorous concerted measures, will produce the desired result. To this we [ know the people of the large towns will never agree. They may howl for Protection for their own mechanics, but farmers and fruit-growers must supply cheap bread and fruit. But they will be perfectly content to sec thefruit-growerenjoyingthe luxury of taxing himself in a vain endeavour to rid himself of a pest, which will be suppressed only when the importation of fruit from without ceases. As in the Acts relating to sheep and cattle diseases, the cost of eradicating the C'odlin moth should be born by the whole community, since the people in general disseminate it. Indeed there is far more reason in the Codlin moth being suppressed at the public expense than any disease of sheep or cattle, since the general public spread the one, which can scarcely be said of the other. Probably in the present state of the colony's finances, it would not. be practicable to have the cost defrayed out of the public treasury, however just such a course may be. A small subsidy, however, pt'Q rata from all the various public bodies, such as town and county councils, road boards, &c., would be a fair and practicable way of raising tho requisite means. la this way the burden being widely spread would bo an easy one, and would moreover be fairly iu proportion to the resposibilities incurred. To throw the entire cost of working the Act upon the shoulders of orchardists, as tho framers of the Act have done, is manifestly the height of injustice, and as I notice the measure has already passed its first reading in the House, it is an injustice that bids fair to be speedily consummated.—l am, &c., Wm. Johns. Tc Awamutu, May 21st, 1888.