DMGER OF FIRES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 138, 8 December 1938, Page 11

DMGER OF FIRES

MINISTER'S APPEAL

DESTRUCTION OF BUSH

Coincident with the advent of hot summer days comes anxiety to Government officials and owners oi bush and grass lands and other-property. A fire started on the roadside may cause irreparable damage to lands and scenic reserves. The recent serious fires in the outskirts of the Rotorua district, which left behind a sad wake of many acres of charred trees, Mils, and paddocks, caused the Government to issue recently a further series of: large-type posters and also stickers for envelopes as a means of drawing pointed attention to what has followed fires started by persons not careful in the use of matches, or by throwing lighted cigarette ends about the waysides. The new posters to be placed in the Rotorua district carry the following messages:—"Fires! If this tussock is burnt • off the sand will encroach even further. Please be careful!" "Fires! These trees have taken years to grow. Why destroy them with a moment's thoughtlessness.?" "A .fire here will do untold damage. Your cooperation is required to prevent this!" "A fire started here will travel for miles. Please don't start one." CHARRED AREAS AT ROTORTTA. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) said today that there were many persons visiting Dhe thermal dietrict whose thougihtfutoess and carefulness with camp fires, matches, and cigarettes would make it unnecessary that they should .study the official posters to be conspicuously displayed in the district. The wide areas of charred trees he saw on a recent visit to Rotorua created a deeply, sad impression in his mind. "It was thought," added the Minister, "that the tossing of a cigarette butt ..from a car had caused at least .one of those fires, which began in the tussock near Hhe roadside. I suppose hundreds of motorists throw out from tbeir cars cigarette ends, sometimes lighted matches. They have no thought, or intention, pjc starting .a. fire -wiridh will; probably cause destruction of .native bush, grass, and crop paddocks. I wish I could show all motorists the killed trees, blank hillsides and flats of Rotorua.

"The Government feels that iin its efforts to save the beautiful bu^h and ferns of the country, it w£ll have the abiding co-operation of the people. Fires which laid, low .native feush oould be prevented by maMng cafe .a habit," Mr. Parry added.' "In that -way could the feush be sav«d."