FOREST LOSS BY FIRE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 76, 18 October 1939, Page 3

FOREST LOSS BY FIRE

NEED OF MORE ACTION In commending the Hon F. Langstone's appeal lor Ihe necessary cooperation of the public in saving forests—especially native forests— from lire.. Captain E. V. Sanderson, president of the Forest and Bird I 10tection Society, declares that the time is overdue lor strongei incas ures against persons who, di recti j Oi indirectly, are the cause ol the bulk, of the lire havoc. There has been plenty of publicity! about glowing cigarette butts, pinCj dottles, lighted wax matches thrown j from motor cars, ''live" ashes leltj by campers and trampers anil care-j less scrub-burning by farmers ami j others. What is to be done about it? j Will the careless be allowed to per-j sist in their stupid practices? Will the authorities rely mainly on "moral suasion?" It is held that the burning of scrub and similar clearing by fire should be subject to permit in all districts, and that notice of such burning should be broadcast so the occupiers of adjoining property could be on the alert. It is urged also that another n-e.d is a better control of timber milling, so that the conditions after the cutt'ng. will not be so extremely favourable for fire. Too olten, in the past, the timber miller has preparer! the way for the lire-fiend. R .I here has been too much tolerance of car r 1 essness.