Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-03-10
SAYS PROPOSED
OUARANTINENOI
TOHlJRT Hawaii

That the territory will not suffer
because of a new order of quarantine
which may go into effect following
the hearing in Washington on March
10 before the department of agricul-
ture, on the fruit and rnelon flies, is
the statement made today by DR.. E. A.
Back, entomologist in charge OF the
Mediterranean fruit.fly investigation
here for the department Of agriculture.
The notice of the hearing states
that in order to prevent the spread or
these flies many fruits and vegetables,
which are named. must not be sent
out OF the territory. This list is the
same as was agreed upon September
Is. 1912, when quarantine was put
on all fruits and vegetables then
known to breed Mediterranean flies.
The only difference is in the expor-
tation of pineapples and bananas.
which may be shipped under pre-
scribed conditions.
DR.. Back in discussing this hear
ing and the order that may be made
following it, said:
1T will be remembered that on Sep
TENDER Is, 1912, the secretary of the
United States department Of agrieul.
ture, signed the notice of quarantine
No. 2 of the federal horticultural
board, which prohibited entry to the
mainland of all Hawaiian fruits and
vegetables then known to breed the
Mediterranean fruit-fly. This quaran-
tine was published in your paper, at
federal expense. at that time.
Previous to this time the quaran-
tine officials of the California horti-
cultural commission had permitted the
entry of Hawaiian grown bananas and
pineapples provided they had been in
spected by competent man in Ho-
nolulu, and this work of inspection
was placed in the hands of your then
existing marketing division. When
the federal department of agriculture
took up its investigations of the fruit
fly conditions in these islands and
relieved the territorial board of the
clean culture campaign against the
fruitfly, 1t also. at the request OF the
local authorities, assumed the respon
sibility for the proper insuection of
bananas and pineapples. The inspec-
ton of pineapples was soon discon-
tinued because Of inadequate facili-
ties. The banana inspection, however.
was made most rigid, and though con-
tinued under federal control was paid
for by the banana growers and shin
pers. While this office found that it
could carry on the inspection work so
per cent cheaper than the marketing
division, still the cost to the banana
growers and shippers was quite heavy.
Because the officials of the fed
eral horticultural board feel that the
cost of the inspections should not fall
upon the Hawaiian banana growers
and because it wishes to successfully
forestall any attempt on the part OF
mainland fruit growers to bring about
an absolute exclusion from the main
land of fresh pineapples. they have
deemed it best to revise the old quar-
antine so that it will place the Ha-
waiian fruit interests upon the firmest
basis possible. The agricultural in
terests of Hawaii have absolutely
nothing to lose and everything to gain
by the proposed quarantine. No in
telligent person who is informed re-
garding the widespread havoc caused
not only here but in every land where
The Mediterranean fruit-fly and melon
fly exists, can question the necessity
for some quarantine to protect the
mainland states from these two very
dangerous pests.
"The banana growers will welcome
the proposed quarantine measure, as
it places, once for all, the banana in
dustry of these islands upon a firm
basis, and relieves them from heavy
yearly tax for inspection. The ship
pers of fresh pineapples also have
everything to gain. and absolutely
nothing to lose At the present time
all fresh pineapples shipped to San
Francisco are subjected to heavy,
and often ruinous, fumigation. The
quarantine provides for such
a thorough inspection of export pines
that the writer has every reason to
believe that his investigational work
together with this inspection viii soon
bring about the discontinuance of flu
lnigation at the port of entry The
shippers, therefore. will be
dDl6 TO make D6UIer pTOIlLS WITHOUT du-
ditional cost to themselves.
&C. L. Marlatt, chairman of the fed
eral horticultural board, has been in
Hawaii and is thoroughly familiar with
conditions. His wide expert
ence in federal quarantine work and
his dealings with many foreign coun-
tries, is such that he is thoroughly
CAPABLE of viewing and acting impair
TALLY upon the Hawaiian situation.
While it may be well for the territory
to have representative at the meet
ing of the federal horticultural board
On March 10, it is entirely unneces.
sary. With Albert Waterhouse, act.
ing president and executive officer OF
the territorial board of agriculture and
forestry, now feeling that as long as
Mr. Marlatt is in charge of affairs
at Washington, Hawaii will not suffer
any injustice. there is no cause for
further agitation"
The following is the fruit and vege.
tables put on the quarantine list: Al.
ligator pears, bananas, carambolas,
Chinese ink berry, Chinese orange,