DANGERS OF FLANNELETTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 167, 2 December 1912, Page 4

DANGERS OF FLANNELETTE.

Deaths from flannelette burning are increasing. A reference to the statistics of the English Registrar-fleiieral prove this statement in an unmistakable fashion. There was a time when flannelette was known, and if w<> take this period say from 1880 to 1884 —the number of boys who were burned fdeath numbered 1517. Taking the s.ime space of yars—l9o2-1006—when flannelette was in use, we find the number of boys who were burned to death was 2102, or an increase of 42 per cent. The fatalities amongst girls were still more marked. In the first period 121-5 fell victims to death by -burning, but in the latter 22G7, or ail addition of S7 per cent. These are facts that require most careful consideration on the part of parents and guardians. Another most important point should be .remembered. The deathrate of children under five years of age from burns is now 45 per'cent, higher than it was before flannelette was introduced. This, too, notwithstanding the precautions imposed by the Children Aet, which made it compulsory upon all those who have the care of children to provide fireguards. Yet, even with this precaution, the death-rate on all ages is 12% per cent, in advan. of what it was 15 years ago. A departmental committee of the Home Office was appointed in 1008 to consider, amongst other things, the dangers of flannelette, and reported: "In its nature, owing to the process whereby the surface of the cotton is raised, the cloth which is thus converted into flannelette must be far more liable to catch fire than tjie original cloth, which, again, is far move -easily ignited than flannel.'' Supporting thi's opinion may be quoted the experiments of the British Fire Prevention Committee—a body of experts—who reported concerning 76 samples of ordinary flannelette: that these all took fire immediately during the tests that were made. They bore testimony to "the flame rapidly travelling up the centre of the samples and extending to right and left." Coroners in all parts of the country have spoken with emphasis upon the dangers faced by children .and other persons who wear garments made of this inflammable material. Dr. Green, the coroner in the Worksop district, snid two years ago: "Flannelette is- very dangerous material, for if it does get on fire it blazes away like guncotton." Bishop Boyd Carpenter is endeavoring, through the National League of Physical Education and Improvement, to induce the Home Secretary to take action on the lines of the report of the Departmental Committee. The petition prepared by the League, which has been signed by a number of leading .scientists -nil surgeons, including Sir Lauder Brunt "n, Sir John Tweedy, Sir H. Craik, Sir Ernest Clarke, Sir Benjamin Broadbent, Sir James Crichton Browne, and others, urges three points: (1) That early steps should be taken for bringing about an amendment of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887, by adding a provision making it penal to describe as uninflammable material which will not stand certain prescribed tests; (2) to make public the nature of the tests to be prescribed by any such amendment of the Act before the introduction of the amending Bill; and (3) to include in the amendment either an absolute prohibition of the use of the word "flannelette," or else a prohibition against such use unaccompanied by wording to show that the material is made of cotton only.