VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 39, 16 February 1928, Page 8

VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADES.

OUTGROWN THEIR | USEFULNESS. METROPOLITAN FIRE BOARD URGED. Tin: CASI-: FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY. "Auckland has entirely outgrown the , volunteer fire brigade system and the < sooner this fact is recognised by the various local bodies and the public generally tho better it will be for the community," is the considered opinion of moro than one insurance company manager and men high up in fire protection work. The many fires that have been experienced in Auckland and suburbs recently has brought tho question of fire protection well into the limelight, and Mr. R. G. Clark, chairman of the One Tree Hill Road Board, brought the matter before liia board at last night's meeting. Opposing Wasteful Expenditure. Speaking to a representative of the Auckland "Star" this morning, Mr. Clark said his board had for the last three years opposed any large expenditure for fire protection, knowing full well that a metropolitan fire board must eventually be established in the interests of Greater Auckland. Tho modest system in operation in his district was purely volunteer in character, but at the same time efficient. There was no permanent man on duty, but three of the volunteers had telephone connections with their homes. Tho Auckland Fire Board had been asked to take over the care of the district three years ago, but had refused. They would attend any fire in the district "in the cause of humanity," but could give no undertaking so to do. "At the present time," added Mr. Clark, "there is a fire alarm Bystem extending from the extreme northern boundary of the One Tree Hill District to the Harp of Erin on Great South Road on the one side, and to Greenwood's Corner on the other; so that it only means connecting up with this system to give One Tree Hill most efficient fire protection for which we are quite willing to pay. Our district is sandwiched in between city areas, and we contend that if the Auckland Fire Board in its wisdom considers that it can protect a fire at the extreme boundary of its district at Greenwood's Corner, with its closest station at Parnell (two and a-half miles away), it is quite logical to assume that a properly equipped and manned station erected at Greenwood's Corner could efficiently serve the needs of One Tree Hill, Onehunga, and ; Mount Roskill combined."

Mr. Clark said that One Tree Hill had the option of forming its own fire board solely for the special district. That would mean the expenditure of between £5000 and £6000, and it would probably be found later that the building erected would be unsuitable in the event of a metropolitan board formed—hence the board's present objection to such a waste of the ratepayers' money. "However," concluded Mr. Clark, "my board carried a resolution last night to ask the Auckland Fire Board for protection of the district, and we hope common sense will prevail and that the necessary protection will be given, thus saving a further waste of ratepayers' money." Important Conference Remit.

The question of establishing a Metropolitan Fire Board is no new idea. At the annual conference of fire boards held at Wellington on August 19 last, Mr. J. J. Kingston, of Auckland, submitted the following remit, which was adopted: — "That the Fire Brigades Act, 1920, be amended so as to permit of the formation of Metropolitan Fire Boards in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington." Speaking to the remit (according to tho official report of the proceedings), Mr. Kingston submitted plans of Auckland and suburbs, showing that within a radius cf five miles there were nine districts outside the Auckland area. Two of tho districts, Mount Roskill and Onehunga, were served by boards, the other districts being under the control of volunteer brigades. "Overtures have been made to us by two boards to take over their fire fighting," said Mr. Kingston, "and another district, Newmarket, has had an unofficial talk with us with a view to seeing what it would cost to look .after their district... As we view the matter we find that buildings are being put up in these districts which propose to come in, which in tho event of amalgamation would be worked. . . When we put permanent men on instead of the volunteers, with the cost of erecting alarms, the expenses will bo greater, but still we think it desirable in the interests of the whole district. At present wo have a wedge-shaped district contiguous to three other districts. When a fire breaks out people do not know where to ring. Sometimes three districts are telephoned before the right one is reached. 11 In the meantime the fire is going en, and very often this results in a total loss. We think, therefore, that one body should control the whole area—thus resulting in greater efficiency. . . I think the best method ' is to havo the Act altered that the | whole area should be proclaimed one ' metropolitan area, as is done under the 1 Victorian Act. . ."

TJneviable Reputation. "Nqw Zealand has the unenviable reputation of having the highest loss ratio in regard to fires than any civilised country in the world. The United States was formerly regarded as a regular sink for insurance company funds, but the Dominion ratio is higher fVn that of the States." This statement was made to a "Star" representative this morning by an insurance man high up in his profession, and he gave it as his opinion that any steps that could be taken to reduce this terrific loss to the community should be undertaken at the earliest possible moment. He would express no opinion as to the desirability of establishing a Metropolitan Fire Board for Auckland, contenting himself with the remark that insurance companies existed to assess the risk and make the rate to cover it. Underwriters, he said, had a rooted objection to the system of being called upon to contribute to fire extinguishing. Public opinion, he added, should be educated in regard to fire loss with a view to New Zealand losing its present bad reputation in regard to its fire-loss ratio.