SAFE FIREWORKS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1931, Page 7

SAFE FIREWORKS

SUPPLIES FOR NOVEMBER o. REGULATIONS IMPOSED. \ NO CHINESE “BANGERS.” Some cynic has remarked that Guy' Fawkes uas the only man who ever went to Parliament with the honest intention of doing the country some good. Whether this wag so or not, the fame of his attempt has lasted, and its anniversary on November 5 is again approaching. Here, as in other British countries, the small boy with his fireworks is almost the only active celebrator, and from inquiries made recently it appears that he will he on the job again witlf as much energy as ever.

He will also be considerably safer, because, as a result of Government regulations, the time has passed when odd hands and am occasional eye are sacrificed to make the day a holiday. The regulation® were imposed last year, and were later altered so that fireworks were divided into two classes, in effect, me small and big. Before they can bo sold now they have to be submitted for examination to the Inspector of Explosives, and the position is that all English and Chinese fireworks which can be bought retail have been approved by him. All, too, are marked with 'instructions as to how they are to be used,

Tlie day of "the Chinese “hanger” ha® gone, and with it a good deal of danger. Time was when large “bangers” and “bombs” more suitable really for demolition than celebration, could ne bought freely by children. The trouble was that the fuse was not too positive an index of what the future 'held. Children would light the fuse and watch it burn down, but nothing would happen. Damage occasionally resulted from their habit under such eircum.Stanccs of blowing the fuse alight again. MAKING A “BANGER” SAFE. Air Gii ling Butcher, Inspector of Explosives, in explaining this to “The Dominion” recently, said that t*” only type of “banger” now permitted was the English type, which has a iuse giving out a fire discharge, so that whether it is alight or not can lie seen. Only small fireworks- wore being imported for general sale, he said, and all had to be submitted for examination. Most of the Engish fireworks and about half the Chinese met the requirements. Large and dangerous fireworks, of which some wholesale dealers had stocks, could be used only for demonstration purposes by persons with permits from the Inspector of Explosives. Mr Butcher added that Canada, had taken the same steps as New Zealand in imposing restrictions on the sale of fireworks.

Samples of tho various types of fireworks which merchants propose to import are tested by the department. Some are condemned because of their danger or uncertainty in performance, and some because they scatter burning material which may lodge, under houses, in skirts or clothes, or elsewhere. The occasion on which the department carried out a large scale test is remembered, and also the time when Rome Chinese decided to clean up their stock of “basket bombs.” They put the bombs in a large container and lit one, 'confidently expecting something on a large scale. But the ignited- bomb, instead of acting as' a detonator, scattered the remainder far and wide, and the Chinese had the tedious task of gathering them up again. TROUBLE OVER SHIPPING. Importers of English fireworks have in the past had a good deal of trouble in one way or another. Last year, as was pointed out in “The Dominion” at the time, the clay was celebrated almost entirely with Chinese fireworks, although, as was also pointed out, Guy Fawkes’s interest in the Chinese race, if any, had been lukewarm. The trouble arose through the cancellation of orders following the announcement of the first- Government regulations and the fact that the fireworks could not subsequently be landed in New Zealand before November 5 when the order was renewed.

This year, at least one firm had something of the safhe difficulty. Its order reached London the day before the only suitable ship sailed, and it was thought that owing to the fact that fireworks from the United Kingdom have to come in a proper powder ship the fireworks would again be too late. The Board of Trade, the Thames Conservancy Board, the Port of London Authority and its fire committee, all have ■stringent regulations, which are really relics of the days when explosives and their handling were far more dangerous than at present. The difficulty has been met in isome way, and the fire works have now reached New Zealand, although they will not be in Wellington until next week. The sale of fireworks this year should be fairly large, according to a merchant interviewed at "Wellington. “I think,” lie said, “that there will bo rather an increased sale this year, judging by results up to now. Wc have certainly sold a larger number than last year.”