WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1974
FULL SCALE FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN NEXT MONTH
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THE GOVERNMENT WILL LAUNCH A FULL SCALE FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN FROM DECEMBER 1, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON, ANNOUNCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
WHILE THE CAMPAIGN WILL COVER ALL ASPECTS OF FIRE PREVENTION, HE SAID DUE EMPHASIS WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE DANGERS OF HILL FIRES AND TO THE NEED TO TAKE PROPER PRECAUTIONS IN DISCARDING CIGARETTE ENDS OR IN LIGHTING FIRES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.
MR. ROBSON WAS SPEAKING ON THE SECOND READING OF THE FORESTRY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1974 WHICH SEEKS TO WIDEN THE SCOPE OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE SO AS TO BRING WITHIN ITS PROTECTIVE UMBRELLA, OPEN COUNTRYSIDE WHERE MOST OF THE HILL FIRES ARE STARTED.+
UNDER THE BILL, THE LIGHTING OR USE OF FIRES WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE OR CARE BY EITHER AN INDIVIDUAL OR A MEMBER OF A GROUP WOULD BE MADE AN OFFENCE, HE SAID.
+IT MAY BE ARGUED THAT TO IMPOSE GROUP RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MANNER WOULD BE AN EROSION OF THE LIBERTY OF THE INDIVIDUAL- HOWEVER, IT IS A MATTER OF FACT THAT PEOPLE WHO VISIT THE COUNTRYSIDE OFTEN DO SO IN LARGE GROUPS.
+IT WOULD, THEREFORE, BE LOGICAL FOR THEM TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AS A GROUP FOR ANY ACTION ON THEIR PART WHICH RESULTS IN A FIRE THAT IN TURN CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE COUNTRYSIDE.+
MR. ROBSON SAID HE WAS CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON HOW TO USE THE COUNTRYSIDE WITHOUT ENDANGERING IT. IN THIS RESPECT, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES HAD EMBARKED ON AN IMAGINATIVE FIVE-YEAR PROGRAMME FOR THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR PICNICKING AND BARBECUES IN SUITABLE LOCATIONS.
+IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS PROGRAMME HE IS PRODUCING A RANGE OF PAMPHLETS DESCRIBING NATURE TRIALS AND WHAT MAY BE SEEN ON THEM IN THE WAY OF PLANT AND WILD LIFE. THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE IS ALSO PRODUCING A SERIES OF COUNTRYSIDE MAPS SHOWING FOOTPATHS, FORESTED AREAS AND PICNIC SPOTS, AND INCORPORATING A COUNTRY CODE WHICH LAYS DOWN GUIDELINES FOR THE PROPER USE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE.+
HOWEVER, MR. ROBSON STRESSED THAT ALL THIS WOULD HAVE LITTLE VALUE UNLESS PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS SCHOOLS AND FIRMS WHICH TAKE LARGE PARTIES TO THE COUNTRYSIDE WOULD ENSURE THAT THEIR MEMBERS ARE AWARE OF THE NEED TO PREVENT HILL FIRES.