NEW YEAR FIREWORKS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17145, 30 December 1929, Page 8

NEW YEAR FIREWORKS

BAN ON CRACKER BOMBS SMALL CRACKERS EXEMPT Jn pursuance of the directions issued by the Commissioner, Mr. W. B. McUveney, respecting tho use of fireworks daring the holiday season, the police force in CSisborne lias been on the alert for 'any display of cracker-bombs, such as have come into use—it can hardly be said they have, come into public favor—during recent years. The Now Year will be ushered in with less vociferousness than usual, in consequence of the ban placed on this typo of fireworks, and while there may bo a question as to the intention of the Arms Act in relation to fireworks, there is little likelihood of any public outcry against the action of the commissioner. it is understood that the embargo placed on the powerful, and destructive classes of cracker-bom&S has arisen from a series of accidents from their use during the Guy Fawke's Day celebrations 11ns year. In more than one instance the bombs, caused painful injuries to individuals, and one case in Hawke's Bay proved serious. There has been a progressive trend towards the employment of powerful sky-rockets and ground-bombs for purposes of celebration of late years, and l the Catharine wheels and Roman candles of earlier tinies have fallen off in demand accordingly. A revival of interest in the milder forms of pyrotechnics is likely to result from "the* Police Commissioner's pronouncement, whi<jh has the support of tho Crown Law Office as to its authority. The officers of the department have I drawn attention to sections oP the Arms Act which define an explosive as (1) a homogenaous material which is not part of an article and which is explosive in iho accepted sense of the term, and (2) an article comprising an explosive (in the accepted sense) if the article is capable of destructive effect by way of explosion. There seems to be little room/ for doubt as to the destructive capabilities of the crackerbombs sold Of late years, and if is regarded as beyond question that the sale and purchase of these articles can be controlled under the licensing section of the Arms 1 Act. / ... Since cracker-bombs and similar explosives are to be dealt with under the Arms Act, it is illegal for any person to sell or purchase them without a permit from the police. The police officials have no intention of issuing permits fbr the purchase of the articles, and sub* sequently it may be said that for the time being at least the trade in dangerously explosive fireworks is dead. ■ No objection is to be taken to the use of "throw-downs" and the milder form of crackers, or to Roman caudles, Catherine wheels, or other fireworkswhich consume themselves ill sparks., Presumably anyone causing damage by the use of such fireworks will be subject to legal action under the general 'legislation, but for the purpose of the Arms Act there is no objection to thenuse. Inspector 0"Ilallora» has received a report from Opotiki to the effect that plosive crackers have been sold there, and that prosecutions arc pending, but so far as Gisborrie is concerned the shopkeepers have profited by the hint given by Mr Mcllveney, aiid have refrained from displaying or selling the banned classes of fireworks.