COMMENT BY WELLINGTON PAPERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 131, 4 June 1901, Page 8

COMMENT BY WELLINGTON PAPERS.

The "Post," commenting upon the fires at Auckland and Wellington, says they are likely to focus the public attention on the fire hazard, and it may be reasonably hoped that urgent improvements and reforms will be put in hand in consequence. On several occasions attention has been directed to the increase in the fire hazard. Omitting the fire at the Grand Hotel, Auckland, there were 21 fires in the colony during the month of May, and the insurance companies losses totalled.over £40,000. Having regard to the loss of lives at the Royal Oak and the Grand it would, says the "Post," be interesting to know what has since been done in the matter of inspecting the escapes provided in hotels, boarding houses, and public buildings generally, and Whether the building by-laws have been strictly carried out. While the writer exonerates the insurance com--1 panics from blame for raising the premiums in self defence, but thinks nothing short of stricter enforcement of the by-laws and stringent inquiries into the cause of fires will tend to reduce the existing risks. A thorough inspection of buildings is advocated, in view of the approaching large influx of country visitors on the occasion of the Royal reception. Referring to the Grand Hotel the article says:—"lf the daughters of the landlord, who were familiar with the premises, perished in the ■ flames, what chance would strangers have had under similar circumstances? The hotel was, no doubt, examined and pronounced safe, and yet people familiar with the place lost - their lives."

The "Times" congratulates Auckland that the fire did not happen when the hotel was crowded by the Royal suite, because the fatalities would have been larger. It considers that the fierce rapidity of the fire raises the question as to whether adequate precautions are taken to minimise risks. The fact of women being obliged to jump from windows shows that the means of escape were defective. The Auckland fire teaches the whole of the colony that all such buildings ought to be properly planned against fire, and that complete apparatus should be provided to allow of proper means of escape from fire. The interior, as well as the exterior, should be fireproof. Tlie ai'ticle recommends tanks of water aud hoSes in every corridor, obligatory *. fire drills, extra exits, and ropes fastened to staples in every room; and concludes by pointing out that a number of hotels in Wellington might at any moment be the scene of a similar calamity to that in Auckland. Attention is being drawn to the frequency of fires- caused by careless smoking in bedrooms. Some recent cases of fire here are attributed to this

cause. The police authorities admit many hotels are insufficiently furnished with means of escape from fire, especially where only ropes are provided. The Inspector of Police advocates that the clause of the Licensing Act making it obligatory on hotelkeepers to point out fire escapes to lodgers should be enforced.