The White Fly

Reassuring Statements From Java

Little Danger Of Pest

From Our Own Correspondent

Port Moresby, Nov. 20.

IN November, 1930, a question and discussion arose as to the danger and likelihood of a coconut pest, now known ag Aleurodicus, spreading into the plantations of Papua and New Guinea.

The pest, it was said, was common to the Philippines, Celebes and the Moluccas, and there was a fear that it would spread through the shipping from the affected areas by the Dutch boats.

The question was thoroughly exam ined by the authorities, both in Aus tralia and in the Netherland Islands, and the following statements by the Director of the General Experimental Bureau of Agriculture at Buitenzorg, Java, in June, in reply to letters from both the British Consul-General at Batavia (Java) and Macassar (Celebes) will certainly allay any fears of the

pest spreading and will prove interest ing reading.

They run as follows: The damage caused by Aleurodicus can only be effective when other cir cumstances arise which in themselves conduce to a less favourable condition for coconuts. This is now the case in Southern Celebes, where the cultiva tion of coconuts has never stood a good chance owing to the dry climate. It is improbable that the pest has spread from the Philippines to Celebes and the Mollucas. Aleurodicus has for a long time been known in Java, where the insect is of no economic significance, just as elsewhere in the archipelago, where the conditions for growing coco nuts are entirely favourable.

As a coconut pest it is not in any sense new to the Celebes and the Molluccas. It has been known in the Celebes at least since 1912. Besides the Philippines and Malaya, Aleuro dicus was also reported in the South Sea Islands in 1913, and in the Solo mons in 1909.

If an inquiry into the spread of this pest were held in New Guinea and in Northern Australia, it would most prob ably show that this insect is also to be found there and it causes just as little damage in those places where the conditions for coconut growing are en tirely favourable as for instance in Java and Sumatra.

The possibility of Aleurodicus spread ing from coconut palms to other palms and fruit trees appears to us very small indeed. A control of the import of such plants would be the only effect ive means of prevention together with fumigation.

In May, 1931, the matter was brought under the notice of the authorities at Canberra, when the Custodian of Ex propriated Property in New Guinea for warded a letter from a firm there in which they emphasised the danger of this pest being introduced into the country, through the agency of the Dutch boats calling in from the east and carrying cargo to Papua and New Guinea.

Previously to this, owing to an art icle on the subject in the Pacific Is lands Monthly, on November 20, 1930. the Dutch authorities had assured the British Consul at Batavia that no seri ous pests had arisen in their country in the last year or two, and there was no risk of the spread of the disease into New Guinea whatever, and that the statements made in this direction had been needlessly alarming.

Owing to this discussion and any apprehensions that mieht arise, the Papuan Government is taking all precautions to prevent the introduc tion of this or similar diseases into the Territory.