DAMAGE BY FIRE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 65, 9 December 1938, Page 13

DAMAGE BY FIRE

Destruction Of Bush Areas

APPEAL BY MINISTER Itamage caused to bush country and other property as a result of tlie careless use of matches and the throwing of lighted cigaretle ends on the roadsides was referred to yesterday by the Minister of Internal Affairs. Mr. Barry. Hi' saiil that posters were io be placed in i lie Rotorua district carrying the following messages: ."Fires! If this tussock is burnt <’ff the sand will encroach even liirther. I’lea-e lie ca refill !” "Fires! Tln-se frees have taken years to grow. Why destroy them with a moment's thoughtlessness?" "A fire here will do untold damage. Your cooperation is required lo prevent this!" "A lire siarted here will travel for miles. Please don't start one." Mr. I’arry said that there were many i persons visiting the thermal district whose I bought fulness and carefulness with camp tires, matches ami cigarettes would make it unnecessary th,-it they should study the idlieial posters to be displayed conspicuously in the district. Tlie wide area of charred trees lie saw on a recent visit to Rotorua created a deeply sad impression in his mind. “It was thought." said tlie Minister, “that the tossing of a cigarette butt from a car had caused tit least, one of these fires, which began in the tussock near tlie roadside. I suppose hundreds of motorists throw out from their cars cigarette ends. sometimes lighted matches. They have no thought, or intention, of starring a lire which will probably .cause destruction of native bush, grass and crop paddocks. I wish I could show all motorists the killed trees, black hillsides and fiats of Rotorua. The picture would always lie with them when they finished a cigarette.

"The Government, feels that in its efforts io save the beautiful bush and ferns of tlie country, it will have the abiding co-operation of the people. Fires which laid low native hush could be prevented by making care a habit. In that way could tlie bush be saved. "There is a further menace to our trees and their foliage—the depredations of deer—which lias for long been out of hand. What I saw at Stewart; Island and in parts of Central Otago while operating with the official decides! ruction parties a few days ago, convinced me that every fl used in efforts to lessen the herds of the animals in tlie bush area is money well and truly spent. The damage done by deer lias- continued bad lor years. The trouble is that tlie damage is growing in extent.

"We must redouble the work, of destroying doer: we are redoubling efforts itt appealing to tlie public to prevent fires: or, the native bush along many of the picturesque highways will ultimately make way for unsightly scared hills and. their trailer—erosion."