PINE PLANTATION—A FIRE MENACE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 20 February 1931, Page 2

PINE PLANTATION—A FIRE MENACE

(To the Editor)

Sir—There are many valuable Pinus Insignis plantations" ift 'Nelson- district, especially in the Moutere. The owners of these plantations are in daily dread that fires may at any tune destroy their trees. Two or three plantations have already been destroyed As there are so many unemployed in Nelson at, the present time, I would suggest that gangs of them, under competent leaders, should undertake the work of making fire belts round the plantations, and where these belts already exist, but are too narrow to save the trees in case of fire, they should widen them sufficiently for safety. Two or three fires might costs thousands of pounds damage. I feel sure that most owners of such properties, if not all of them, would pe very pleased to have their properties rendered safe. I notice that a few owners have taken the necessary precautions, and may npw consider themselves safe. Hie work should be started at once, for with the grass and scrub so very dry, bad fires may occur at any am, etc., pD)ES Nelson, 20th February.