THE INNOCENT CRACKER

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 34, 12 March 1930, Page 6

THE INNOCENT CRACKER

— ^ ^ / The latest decree of the Government will not allow the sale of fireworks to children, and requires that every adult must secure a permif from the police to purchase fireworks. Shop-keepers must hold a dealer's license as well as a geperal authority (costing in all 25s), to enable them to negotiate the purchase and sale of fireworks. A penalty-of £100 will be imposed for selling fireworks without a permit. It is safe to say that if°the small boys of this country had the vote the present Government would go out of office. The solemn declaration really puts an end to the Guy' Fawkes' Day pelebration that children and parents over many generatiopH have enjoyed to such a marked degree. No longer will children be permitted to purchase fireworks indiscriminately, as has been the ease in the past, and even fireworks-loving adults will have to get buying permits from the poKce before they ean obtain these goods. To our mind the new regulations as issued by the Attorney-General seem a little drastic. The Government is evidently obsessed with the idea that it must shape aright the lives of all New Zealanders in matters of this nature, but it suggests going a little too fnr to prohibit altogether the sale of any fireworks to children and only* to adults possessed of a police permit. The solemn edict has gone forth that anybQdy carrying about such destructive explosives as fireworks, unless "for lavyfiil, proper and sufficient pui'pose" will be liable to three months' imprisonment br a fine of £100. Over-zealous youths who put detonatovs on railway lines, little toddlers who let off ' "squibs" and crackers on Guy Fawkes' Day and. misguided youngsters who seek a thrill and joy in lighting rockets, will in future have their ardour curbed in the manner stated above. Possibly exemptions will be claimed by those children who have no parents, but the new regulation do.es no go into details to that cxtent. We are told the regulation has been made in - consequence. of the large number of accidents which occurred with fireworks last November and on the adviee of the Commissioner of Police, « who decreed that firewqrks were "deemed to be explosives under the Arms Act." Undoubtedly Cabinet would have quite a few instances of accidents caused by fireworks on the 5th of November last, and they cannot be blamed -for endeavouring to minimise the number of injuries caused to children, but surely their latest decision is a little sweeping in its scope. We belieye we are quite right in^ saying that" practically ninety-five per cent of the fireworks that are sold is harmless. All those in common use can do very little harm, even to the §mallest child. It is the exception that causes the trouble, and a simple remedy would be to prohibit the importation of any fireworks that might be considered of a dangerous nature. The Chinese basket bomb is, perhaps, the best example of what we yefer to. It is a compact affair about th.e size of a Mills bomb and is wrapped tightly with strands of bamboo fibre. It certainly produces a big bang, but it is not safe for children - to handle. Such fireworks should be prohibited. As to the harmless cracker, the Roman candle,, sky rocket, jack-jumper and the many other harmless novelties that produce a pretty display there qan surely be no exception taken. The. observance of Guy Fawkes' Day is a time-honoured custoxn that gives a considerable amount of pleasure to young and old. To practically prohibit it as the Government has done, is indeed drastic. The point of view of the average parent will be listened to with considerable interest when next Guy' Fawkes* Day. approaches. Possibly many fathers and mothers will welqome the restrictions on the sale and use of fireworks, realising that there will be less likelihood of burned hands and feet and the more serious injuries such as were experienced last November, but on the other hand therq muslrbe many who are prepared to take care that the fireworks are let off carefully, in suitable places, and who will object to these restriqtiqns being placed on an innoqent packet of crackers.' The Government has decided that half measures will not meet the case, and that nothing shorf of " severe restrictions will be qffective. The atready oyer-worked police force will have an unenviable, task carrying out these new regulations.