Laws Relating To Forests Consolidated

Chronicle (Levin), 13 July 1949, Page 6

Laws Relating To Forests Consolidated

WELLINGTON, July 12. The name of the Government Depart ment^known as the State Forest Ger vice, is clianged to that of New Zea land Forest IServiee by a clause in Mu Forests Bill which was introduced atiu read .a first time in the House of Be presentalives to-night. The title of thMinister in eharge of the Departmem has been altered from Commissioner o. Htate Forests to that of Minister o> Forests. The Minister in charge of the Bill Mr F. C. Skinner, explained that it wa almost entirelv a consolidating measure. Forestry law was at present in 12 different Aets scattered through the sta tutes and the measure brought them a..into oue Bill. There was very little new in it.. The Bill empowers the Minister t--erect dwellings for eniployees of the Xew Zealand Forest Bervice. The inargin. around state forest land within which it is unlawful to light a lire witlronc proper authority, is m creased from 20 chains tOi one mile . tliis is designed to'iirptect- sthte forests \yhere therev is no rurM fifb .flistriet. The age ,of male pe'rsons-lgubject to requisition for fireiighting purposes, is raised from 10 to -1& years" to cpnform with the provisions of the Forest and Eural Fires Act. The leaving of a burning or smoulder ing substance on state forest land is made- an olTence. The costs of fire-lighting incurred by the Forest Service may be cliarged against an owner on whose land the lire started and endangered state forest land.