SALE OF FIREWORKS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17408, 5 November 1930, Page 11

SALE OF FIREWORKS

THE NEW REGULATIONS MINISTER’S EXPLANATION (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Regulations governing the sale of fireworks lor Guy Fawkes’ day were discussed with a Post reporter this morning by the Hon. P. A. de la Pencil, Minister of Internal Affairs.

“An impression appears to have been created,” said the 'Minister, "that the effect of the restrictions has been to encourage flic; importation of Chinese fireworks at the expense of British. As a matter of fact it lias been found .that tDo importation of fireworks had practically ceased during the present year, only 50 packages having been imported—nine British and 41 Chinese—as compared with 2525 packages—s 99 British and 3926 Chinese—imported last year. Stocks now being sold by dealers are those held from the, previous season. “The regulations recently issued will permit of the sale in future of most of the Roman candle type of fireworks but the larger varieties of ‘hangers’ will be prohibited, except for special firework displays. The intention,” sin cl the Minister, "is to divide fireworks into two classes, one of which can be handled with reasonable safety by children, and the other, larger types which will he restricted for use at special displays under proper control." With regard to comparisons made between British and Chinese fireworks, the Minister stated that the tests carried out dining the past few months by departmental officers had shown that English fireworks were superior to the Chinese, both from construction and a pyrotechnic point of view. British manufacturers did not supply the smaller crackers, and these would continue to he imported from China.