Late—But Still Better

Than Never

fTTHE frantic efforts of Fiji and X Tonga to eradicate rhinoceros beetles that had gained admit tance to those countries, has thrown into relief the almost total lack of precautions for confining New Britain’s agricutural pests—namely, the giant snails, rhinoceros beetles and caspid pest of cocoa—to that district.

It is understood that some ban on carrying plants from Rabaul to other parts of the Territory, par ticularly to the Highlands, does exist; and that there is legislation to prevent the unauthorised move ment of plants from New Guinea into Papua. But neither ban has been policed in the past and unless this sort of regulation is policed, it is useless.

Even the most virtuous citizens are usually not above taking a “bit of fruit” or a “few cuttings” or a pet plant where they legally have no right to be taken. (Rhino beetle is widespread in New Ireland, too — but no one seems to be worrying about that).

The P-NG Agricultural Depart ment has now asked for co-opera tion from the public and from air and shipping services to help in keeping the agricultural pests that already exist in the Gazelle Pen insula confined to that area. Mr.

P, Brosgarth, Assistant Agricultural Officer at Rabaul, will make the necessary inspections and issue the clearances for all plant material authorised to leave the area; air and shipping services will have authority to check cargo and . baggage to see that unauthorised . plant material is not included and J District Commissioners and Customs < officers in other parts of the Terri- ■ tory have been asked to keep a close check on shipments from j Rabaul.

Plant Introduction Work

An officer of the P-NG Agricul- ■ tural Department, Mr. G. Keleny,, visited Fiji in September to discuss £ co-operation between the two c countries on plant introduction i work. He returned to Port Moresby via Noumea where he has reported! to the South Pacific Commission.

P-Ng Rice For Caledonia

And Hebrides

About 1,000 lbs, of seed rice will I be shipped to the Chamber of Agri culture in Noumea, New Caledonia,,j from Papua-New Guinea. A smallen consignment will go to the Newv Hebrides.

Over four-fifths of the seed sentl will be of the Mekeo variety, a types evolved from varieties imported too New Guinea before the war. Thes rest will be of the Bubia strain,,r which comes from the Station of that name in the Mark—: ham Valley near Lae. It was bredb

from rice found growing near Lae after the end of World War ll— presumably planted there by the Japanese.