More home-made fireworks feared

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33676, 28 October 1974, Page 14

More home-made fireworks feared

The Department of Internal Affairs is concerned that the new. restrictions on the sale of fireworks may result in an upsurge of homemade fireworks. Fireworks went on sale; ■yesterday, 10 days before' Guy Fawkes Day. Mr G. Fisher, deputy chief inspector of the explosives! and dangerous goods division, said in a statement.; that the shorter period of! sale could lead to more, home made crackers. “Although home-made crackers are highly danIgerous and illegal." people persist in making their own! ■ crude variety,” he said. IGNORANCE Most accidents were the result of ignorance about the) '“lethal” explosives home manufacturers were using. Mr Fisher urged that care be taken while handling fireworks. A garden hose or water supply should be kept nearby. Fireworks should be lit! only when away from other, people, buildings or firerri.sk areas. Crackers were highlydangerous if carried ioosely in pockets or lit in bottles. ) "Bangers” or “jumping . jacks” should not be lit , under or on porches. Spark- i lers, which caused six peri cent of injuries in one .study,l;

should also be handled with care. Children aged between 10 ! and 15 suffered most facial j and eye injuries from fireworks. NO BREACHES ’ No breaches of the law ■ governing the sale of I fireworks have been reported J to the Christchurch police. The acting head of the Christchurch police district (Superintendent G. E. Twentyman) said that the ![ police would enforce the new ■ law, but did not expect much , trouble with it. “Guy Fawkes Day does not .■seem to be as popular now ! as it was several years ago,” he said. I Mr I. S. Semple, the !Christchurch fire prevention officer, said the brigade had the right to put out any bonfires it considered dangerous ..on Guy Fawkes night. Only one bonfire was put out last year, but the brigade had a difficult time doing it, said Mr Semple. The owner of the propertyparked his car in the drive and removed the keys to 'stop a fire engine driving in. When firemen argued with him, he assaulted an officer, for which he was later fined in court. ] Bonfires are prohibited after sunset. Mr Semple asked that they be kept away from property, and [that they be kept under conItrol.