FIRE DANGER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 21, 22 December 1937, Page 11

FIRE DANGER

MINISTER’S WARNING. APPEAL FOR CARE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 21. “With the event of the year’s principal holiday season, it is necessary to recall to the minds of everyone the appeals that have recently been made for the greatest care with all campers’ fires,” said the Commission of State Forests (Hon. F. Langstone) this evening. “The extremely • fine weather of November was accompanied by the most disastrous fires that the Dominion has seen for at least 20 years. The value of the timber that could have been cut now from the trees destroyed by fire between November 29 and December 1 was at least half a million pounds. This takes no account of the immature timber, both State and private, which would have grown to future values.

“Three days of carelessness wasted millions of feet of the Dominion’s timber resources, and cost the country hundreds of pounds of direct but unproductive outlay on fire-fighting. “The rains that have, since ensued may have lulled fears of many, but the return of fine and promising weather which we welcome for everyone’s enjoyment has made the fire danger as acute as ever all over the country. Men are standing by without any Christmas leave to be in. readiness to combat any outbreak, and the Government appeals to all those who are holiday-making in the open to reinforce their efforts by making absolutely certain that every fire is lit in a harmless place and is completely extinguished after U6e. Certain features of the climate, as recorded by the meteorological services, were this year the most dangerous for fire ever shown in 50 years of records. The damage can be absolutely nil if all will cooperate in a campaign to enjoy the countryside without burning it.”