Fireworks

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7169, 17 March 1930, Page 10

Fireworks

DIVERGENT VIEWS ON NDW REGULATIONS. WHAT SOME PARENTS THINK.

The announcement that the sale o£ fireworks is to be restricted in future, and possibly only to adults on a police permit, with approval of the letting-off site, has not caused much concern to the general public, much perhaps, for the reason that the next anniversary of Guy Fawkes Day is still a long way off. The latest legislation is, nevertheless, of importance to parents, children, and the commercial community. “Jt'is to all intent® and purposes the end of the retail fireworks trade,” said Mr J. Whitney, general manager of the Colonial Ammunition Company, in the course of an interview. He stated that all the big stores carried heavy stocks of fireworks, and that on these an import duty of 20 per cent, had been paid. The virtual effect of tho announcement was that tho stocks could not bo disposed of except under irksome restrictions to which neither tho public jnor the trade would consent. The majority of the fireworks were shipped from Britain and the freightage charges were heavy owing to the fact that they had to be carried in special ships. The position was sufficiently serious from the point of view of big firms, said Mr Whitney, but he pointed out that it was disastrous to the small storekeeper, particularly iu country districts. Those tradespeople carried sufficient stock to meet the needs for the Coming year. They would not be able to dispose of their goods and would not be able to return them. A further difficulty in country districts was that if permits were desired it would be necessary for the father of the family to make a long journey to the nearest constable, sometimes 20 or 30 miles to the nearest township. The importation of what is known as the Chinese basket bomb was mentioned to Mr Whitney, who said the Government’s obvious remedy was to prohibit their importation. The basket bomb is a compact affair about the size of the Mills bomb, and wrapped tightly in strands of bamboo fibre. Its main duty is to produce a big bang, and this it does, but, unless very carefully and knowledgably handled, it is by no means safe to deal with. Accidents have happened with it, and probably these accidents havo induced the present legislation. The point of view of the average parent perhaps is not quite so easily expressed. Probably there are many fathers. and mothers of families who will welcome any restrictions on the sale and use of fireworks, realising that this will mean less likelihood of burned hands and feet, and less anxiety regarding children’s eyesight. On the other hand there must be many who are prepared to take care that the fireworks are let off carefully and in a suitable place, and who will object to restrictions being placed on th© purchase of an innocent packet if crackers.

The possibility of danger from fire was mentioned, to tire Chief of the Auckland Brigade (Superintendent W. W. Wilson). “To tho best of my knowledge,” said Mr Wilson, “there has been no serious fire caused by the explosion of fireworks. Conditions today are entirely different from what they were 20 or 30 years ago, however. In those days most of tho houses in Auckland wero roofed with wooden shingles, and a rocket or burned fragment of a firework alighting on a flat roof was definitely a source of danger.”