ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUGARCANE PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL BOARD SYSTEM IN QUEENSLAND, 1890–2000

摘要

Voluntary Pest Control Funds originated in 1895 during prolonged, severe, greyback canegrub epidemics in areas from Mackay to Cairns. W.T. Paget of Mackay led the fight for legislation to compel systematic destruction of beetles, funded by levies on benefited properties. This bid failed, as did another attempt in 1916, but voluntary funds continued operations assisted by Government subsidies. The first statutory Cane Pests Boards were established in 1923 under the Sugar Experiment Stations (SES) Act.Pressure mounted in the 1930s for boards to undertake disease control operations as Fiji and downy mildew disease epidemics developed. In 1938, Cane Disease Control Boards were established as part of expanded disease control legislation in the SES Act.Soon, there were 12 Pests Boards and eight Disease Boards, and amalgamation was necessary. The SES Act set up Cane Pest and Disease Control Boards in 1941. Sixteen boards were constituted in 1942 and this increased to 21 by 1975. Under the Sugar IndustryAct 1991, these boards became Cane Protection and Productivity Boards with power to undertake general productivity functions. Under the Sugar Industry Act 1999, the boards remained statutory bodies but lost the right to statutory levies. After 76 years,it was back to voluntary funding! Brief histories are given of voluntary funds for 1895– 1993, and statutory boards for the 1923–2000 period.