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extinguished before he leaves it. Nobody who has been IN the bush should go away without making sure that his fire is OUT. The forests of Western Australia are part of a great inheritance of natural resources; they belong to the people, and anything that diminishes their value reduces the store of national wealth. It is the duty of every citizen to protect the forests, and in so doing he is protecting his own property. Under the "Forests Act, 1918," regulations for the prevention of fire have been made, and certain penalties prescribed. The chief of these regulations runs as follows:—
101. (1.) If any person—
- (a) lights, kindles, or assists to light or kindle, or aids or abets another person in lighting or kindling, any fire within the boundaries or within twenty yards of any boundary of a State forest or timber reserve; or
- (b) leaves, without taking due precaution against its spreading or causing injury, a fire lighted or kindled by him as aforesaid, or in the lighting or kindling of which he has aided or abetted;
and in either case any forest produce is burnt or injured, or is in danger of being burnt or injured, such person shall be guilty of a forest offence, and liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for not exceeding one year, or to a penalty not exceeding one hundred pounds.
(2.) A reward of not exceeding fifty pounds may be paid by the Department to any person, not being a forest officer, who shall give such information as may lead to a conviction under this section.
