Melbourne, Thursday 2 February 1939

[Mr Gowans] I understand that you favour the idea of burning off in autumn rather than in spring?
I do.

Why?
May I make a little speech?

[The Commissioner] Yes?
I was born in Fernshaw nearly 70 years ago. I always take great notice of fires. From my earliest recollections I remember that every year there were fires in the mountains. They were caused by splitters. I don't mean cattle men.

They kept the tops of the ridges and the surrounding slopes clear. The fires never extended to the gullies. I consider that is the proper way to burn. At that time, the forests around Fernshaw had hardly a dry tree in them. That lasted until 1898 when the big Gippsland fires started.

We had left Fernshaw then. The splitters had been out of the bush for 16 or 17 years. Growth had accumulated. The consequence was that when these fires came along they killed big stretches of mountain ash which were most beautiful. I was given to understand that the forests never grew again.

After smaller fires, I used to notice that the mountain ash would always come up in some cases like a crop of maize with no scrub, but a big fire took it all. Then we had a long run from 1898 to 1926 and everybody knows what happened then. Therefore I maintain that the burning of ridges and slopes should be done by experienced men of course at the proper season.

I consider the autumn is the best time for burning. After a spring burning it is possible that the leaves will fall within 2 or 3 weeks or else will hang on the saplings and the country will not be cleared up and a fire will be possible. A place that has been burnt well lasts for three or four years without your being able to fire it or to put a fire through it. Also I consider that the settlers should have more opportunity of burning.

At present you have to wait until the end of March. The date used to be the beginning of March, so I understand. A lot of settlers are anxiously waiting to burn off. If they know they cannot burn at the time when they can get a good burn, they are likely to set fires going at the dangerous period of the year.

I think the Forests Commission should co-operate with the settlers and give them a chance of getting rid of their rubbish and scrub. I should like to stress the point that a person is liable to prosecution if he lights a fire on a few square feet of ground where there is very little grass. The consequence is that persons cannot keep their places clean. They are breaking the law to do so.

[Talking of his paddocks] When I am allowed to burn off they will not burn.

[Mr Kelso questioning] That is one way in which we can hope to keep the forests clean if we can keep the fires out?
I am afraid there is no possibility of that.

But if we could do it?
You might. You remember I said I am certain that the mountain ash will not come again of itself.

I hope you are wrong?
I hope I am too.

Read more about the sawmilling industry in the Aftermath Section