MAY PROSECUTE ON FARM FIRE CASES

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31305, 27 February 1967, Page 11

MAY PROSECUTE ON FARM FIRE CASES

As a result of investigations he would recommend the council to make prosecutions in several cases where farmers had failed to follow the rules for the lighting of fires in a closed fire season, said the Malvern County Council’s principal rural fire officer (Mr W. J. Bevis). Mr Bevis said that some farmers were not playing the game by either not getting permits to burn, or by not observing the conditions under which permits were issued.

“We have already had one fire out of control to a minor extent,” said Mr Bevis. “The Darfield Volunteer Fire Brigade had to be called.” He said that fire restrictions had been in force since De-

cember 24, and conditions now were about as dry as they could be. The restrictions prohibited the lighting of fires except between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., and then only with permission from the local fire warden. “There are various other conditions, such as the need to have a fire-break of at least half a chain, a back-burn and warnings to neighbours before the fire is lit. “We have found that a few inconsiderate farmers have been lighting fires before the stipulated time. Some have ignored the conditions laid down by the warden. Some fires have been lit without a permit.”

Mr Bevis said that the council had instituted a system of verbal permits to make it easier for farmers to arrange to burn off stubble. If some farmers would not co-operate, the council might have to go back to written permits, which would involve a call at the office and a permit to burn on a specified day or a total prohibition on the lighting of fires.

DECIMAL CONVERSIONS Decimal currency will be Introduced in New Zealand In July 1967. Recommended conversion rates from It to 5s are as follows:

18 10c Is 3d 17C 1$ Id 11c Is 9d 18c Is 2d 12c Is lOd 18c Is 3d 12c is lid 19C Is 4d 13c 2s 20c 18 5d 14c 3s 30c Is fid 15c 4s 40c 18 7d 16c 5s 50C