220 THE FOREST LANDS OF FINLAND. 



does not come under the head of sved ; and there are also 

 distinctions between different kinds of sved which the 

 Committee have deemed it advisable to leave out. 



' With respect to forest fires, besides the existing pro- 

 hibition and safeguards, the Committee have forbidden 

 the kindling of fires on property belonging to another, 

 and also carelessness with regard to the use of fire-arms, 

 smoking tobacco, &c., in the forest. There are also intro- 

 duced other provisions with regard to incautiously carrying 

 about fire in the forest, as also with regard to persons who 

 may be witnesses of this, and fail to report it. 



' With respect to fines, &c., for offences against the forest 

 laws, the Committee have seen it their duty to take under 

 consideration the laws at present in force, and determine 

 whether these should remain in force or not, with a view, 

 if possible, to make the penalties in proportion to the 

 offences. They have enumerated the penalties in a special 

 chapter, in case the forest laws should come into force before 

 those referring to pains and penalties ; and have sought 

 thus to avoid the difficulties which might arise in this way. 

 The circumstance that a new law as to pains and penalties 

 is under consideration determined the Committee to 

 leave out of consideration such questions as, for example, 

 how far destruction of wood be likened to ordinary theft. 

 They think that whatever views may be held on this 

 point, so long as the law is what it is, it were better to 

 have this settled under the head of Pains and Penalties, 

 the working out or determination of which does not lie 

 within the province of the Committee. 



As regards the penalties for forest offences, they have 

 generally gone upon the principle to leave the Court free 

 to determine within certain well-marked lines the penal- 

 ties in conformity with the course of legislation in later 

 times. 



' Under the last chapter on Special Statutes, containing 



