Conttol Of Pests
p. 84 · Read in the full issue
Important International Conference In Fiji
SUVA, April 3.
AN international conference of experts on plant and animal diseases and pests opened at Suva on April 2 under the auspices of the South Pacific Commission, and is expected to continue for 10 days.
The Conference is examining quaran
tine and control of pests, and diseases and weeds of the South Pacific, and will make i ecommendations to the Commission for the attention of the six Member Govern ments: Australia. France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Experts from Nether lands New Guinea, Papua and New Guinea, American Samoa, Washington, Wellington, Canberra, Western Samoa, New Caledonia and Fiji are present.
“The Plant and Animal Quarantine Conference will be an important land mark in the economic development of the South Pacific,’ the Secretary-General (Mr.
W. D. Forsyth) said in an an explanatory statement. “It is also a significant ex ample of the international co-operation that the South Pacific Commission was intended to promote among the six Gov ernments responsible for territories in the area.”
It is hoped that considerable progress will be made towards the establishment of standard quarantine regulations for the area. Means of relaying up-to-date infor mation on the control of pests, weeds and diseases affecting both crops and animals are under consideration.
The protection and improvement of agricultural and animal production as the main source of wealth of the South Pacific Islands, is all-important to the region.
The Australian delegation here is led by Dr, T. H. Harrison (Director of Plant Quarantine, Department of Health, Can berra) while France is represented by Dr.
F. Burnicourt (Director of the Institut Francais d’Oceanie, Noumea) and M. J.
Verges (Director of the Veterinary Services of New Caledonia). Dr. J. M. J.
Brantjes (Head of the Government Agri cultural Information Office, Netherlands New Guinea) represents Netherlands.
The New Zealand delegation is led by Mr. G. A. H. Helson (Research Superin tendent of the Department of Agriculture,, Wellington); the United Kingdom dele gation by Mr. B. E. V. Parham, OBE (Senior Agricultural Officer and Acting Deputy Director of Agriculture, Fiji) and the United States delegation by Stanley Fracker, (Agricultural Research Adminis tration, US Department of Agriculture,, Washington). Mr. Fracker will also act as observer for the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations.
The Executive Officer for Economici Development, Dr. H. G. MacMillan, on behalf of the Secretary-General, repre sents the Commission.