Fiji Board Reports

on Beetles

THE Rhinoceros Beetle Eradication Board, which was formed in Fiji in May, 1953, recently issued its first report. It is for the period March 7, 1953, to May 31, 1954.

In the beginning, the Board worked on funds made available by the British Treasury. Over £20,240 was advanced until May 31 1953. In early August, 1953, the first moneys from a tax on copra were received.

Up to May 31, 1954, nearly £83,500 had been received by the Board from the copra tax and from a pound-for-pound Government con tribution. The original grant has been almost completely repaid The beetle tax on copra was fixed at £2 a ton as from June, 1953. But this was reduced by the Fiji Legislative Council to 10/- per ton with effect from January 1, 1954.

Attempts to completely eradicate the beetle have failed, states the re port. But the measures taken and the results achieved in greatly re stricting any increase in numbers and distribution of the pest have justified the considerable expendi ture.

Primary objective of the campaign now is to prevent the beetle reach ing the other islands of the Fiji Group. New methods of control have been developed locally, such as dusting the palm crowns with in secticide, and it is hoped the South Pacific Commission will evolve better and less costly methods.

The Rev. Father Emmet P.

Costello, son of Mrs. K. Costello and the late Mr. D. B. Costello, of Suva, was consecrated a priest of the Society of Jesus by Cardinal Gilroy in Sydney on January 5.