FOREST FIRE LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 October 1939, Page 8

FOREST FIRE LOSSES

NECESSITY FOR PRECAUTIONARY STEPS. In commending the Hon F. Langstone’s appeal lor the necessary cooperation of the public in saving forests, especially native forests, from fire, Captain E. V. Sanderson, president of the Forest and Bird Protection Society, declares that the time is overdue for stronger measures against persons who. directly or indirectly, are the cause of the bulk of the fire havoc.

There has been plenty of publicity about glowing cigarette-butts, pipe dotties, lighted wax matches thrown from motor-cars, “live” ashes left by campers and trampers and careless scrubburning by farmers and others. What is to be done about it? Will the careless be allowed to persist in their stupid practices? Will the authorities rely mainly on “moral suasion?” It is held that the burning of scrub and similar clearing by fire should be subject to permit in all districts, and that notice of such burning should be broadcast so the occupiers of adjoining property could be on the alert. It is urged also that another need is a better control of timber-milling, so that the conditions after the cutting. will not be so extremely favourable for fire. Too often, in the past, the timber-miller has prepared the way for the fire-fiend. There has been too much tolerance of carelessness.