PREVENTION OF FOREST FIRES

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 40, 15 October 1952, Page 7

PREVENTION OF FOREST FIRES

An example of the wide co-opera-tion among many interests aehieved in forest fire protection was given at Kinleith recently when forest owners ,sawmillers, logging and cartage contractors, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Works and Raiiways Department, met at a preliminary conference on the eve of the new fire season, which extends from October 1 to May 1. Main object of the meeting was to acquaint people in the fire districts in the South Auckland area of their responsibilities in guarding the forests from fire. Mr R. B. Moorbouse, forestry administer of New Zealand Forest Products Ltd., who presided, visited the United States last year under the sponsorship of the U.S. Forest Service and UNO to attend a course on the latest methods of fighting forest fires. , All the danger points in an area containing timberbassets valued at many millions of pbhnds 'tf&Ve explained and the grave menace from a fire in the Taupo area was emphasised., flb ' is fcoped by the fire authorities that, the Government' will shortly form a, new fire cfistrict to cover the Taupo area with adequate manpower and f acilities to provide better protection. It was felt that the conference had served a very useful purpose and a further gathering was convened for October when the ehairman hoped to display some fire prevention films and slides.