BUSH PROTECTION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22484, 13 November 1947, Page 3

BUSH PROTECTION

FIRE DANGER REMOVAL GREATER POWERS URGED (P.R.) _ _ WELLINGTON, Nov. 13. The intention of moving an amendment in the committee stages of the Forest and Rural Fires Bill was announced in the Legislative Council yesterday by the leader, Mr. D. Wilson, during the second reading debate. The amendment proposed was to give added powers to fire officers to order the removal of fire hazards such as gorse and old sheds, said Mr. Wilson, who in introducing the bill in the Council said it aimed at the conservation of forest supplies. The bill was designed to give the Government greater powers in dealing with rural fires, said Mr. J. E. Duncan. New Zealand was half in bush before the white man came, but the bush had been ruthlessly destroyed and now there was only 13 per cent, of the country's area in bush. Any country that had less than 25 per cent of its area in bush was uneconomic.The bill would need to be interpreted with balance and good sense, said Mr. W. Grounds. There had been a tremendous waste of New Zealand’s original forest but a new era in forestry development was starting. The administration would need in districts where forestry was not the main industry to develop fire consciousness among all the people.

The bill was read a second time.