FIRES AND FIRE PREVENTION.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11010, 6 July 1901, Page 5

FIRES AND FIRE PREVENTION.

THE INTENTIONS SOP THE GOVERN- .. ' ment. . ' ;" ' • , (BY OTTR SPECIAL REPORTER.) ! Among the announcements in the Speech, from the Throne, was one to the effect that the Government intends to introduce measures to place fire brigades, fire applances," and water supply througout the colony, in a better condition.

It is also intimated that stronger provision will be made for bringing under the control of the police the means of escape from fire with regard to hotels and lodginghouses, and also'for making it compulsory in the case of large hotels for efficient night-, watchmen to be employed on the premises, With regard to this last-mentioned proposal, a number ,„ of -large hotelkeepers in Ciiristchurch informed a representative of "The Press" thai they considiered a nightwatchman, or night-porter, a necessity where there were boarders. ,He was neoes-, sary, not only to make frequent rounds of inspection of the premises, both inside and outside, but also for the convenience of the boarders. There appeared to be unanimity on this point bo far as could "be ascertained, and in most of the large hotels night porters are employed at present. . The licensees of hotels, where there are rarely any lodgers, however, did not consider a niglit potter at all necessary, unless any special reasons existed for the employ; ment of one.

Superintendent Smith is of opinion that in every large hotel there should be a night-watchman. He should be a thoroughly reliable man, for were he otherwise he would:be a danger rather than a safeguard. Where such a person is engaged there ought to be provided a tell-tale system, whereby the man has to account for himself at regular intervals throughout the night. It was little use having a man wJbo spent the greater part of his time in back room doing nothing else but cleaning boots; etc. I. ■ ..

On the larger question as to the Government intentions generally, Superintendent Smith thinks there is little _doubt' that the representations of the United Fire Brigades' i Association will -be carefully considered, and a large amount of information would be gleaned by the Government from the report furnished by Superintendents Smith and Gilberd on their visit to America and Europe. When the Fire Brigades' Association was formed some twenty-one years ago} one of its objects -was to try and get the whole of the brigades in the colony properly equipped by bringing in a Bill providing that they should be maintained by the Government paying one-third, the insurance companies one-*third, and municipal bodies a>third. Year after year the Bill has been brought forward. Twice it got through the flower House, but was thrown out in the Council. At. almost every meeting of the Association the matter has been discussed, and it was gone into at the recent meeting in Christehurch. - At that gathering a committee, consisting o f Secretary Bobbins, of Hawera, and Superintendent Smith, of Christchuroh, was appointed to interview the Premier during this session, and. endeavour to obtain his assistance-in bringing in a Bill'to "put the brigades on a better footing. As it is unlikely that Superintendent Smith will be , able to go to Wellington, it is more than

probable that Mr C. M. Gray, chairman of the local Fire Brigade Committee, who mar b3 in Wellington at the tuiie, will'act on liis behalf. Tha Government, we learn from Superjn-. lenient Smith,, has said time after tifhe;V 'Leave th 3 Governm&t out and we Wilf support the bi!).""* _That is to say, <ha insurance companies tmd municipal bodies should divide the cost. The reason-given, by-the Government for this attitude was that they were only ths trustees of tbjsjmbjic, and if thay.~ were called upon to gh-e a "certain'sum. ft . wouki simply, come out of the ratepayers' ! i>odn>t« j\ist the .same. The Brigades'. j Union, it is interesting to note, is slfghtly I dividtd OQ the question as to who shonid bear the cost. Some think it not right to tax the insurance companies, but the others think these concerns are the most interested and ths most benefited by haying np-to-date fire appliances in the towns, and should therefore pay their fair share. In Ne\r South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia lie companies pay one-third. The insur'~C3 companies at Home have to pay a small ?ic«ntage. on all business they do, to -iie London County Council, and in America aJso they pay a certain percentage. Superintendent Smith thinks that it is probable that some such provision as this wiH be made by the Government in its proposed legislation. The Superintendent's personal epnion ; as to the question of bearing the cost is that the municipal bodies, should strike a small rate ugon all insurable property*. A rate of say one-sixteenth of a penny in the pound in Christchurch would give ample provision for the support of the fire..brigade. It is, he thinks, very probable that if the insurance companies had to pay say £500.'the sum would still come out "of the ratepayers', pockets by means of ancreased premiums. Providing adequate to cope ! with outbreaks of fire would be one of the most important undertakings in many places. Mr Smith regards it as likely tha,t as the bill, to be introduced will be a Government measure, - two -Government '- inspectors—one for each island—may be appointed to,see that the; proper steps are taken and that the plant is efficient. In conclusion, v Superintendent Smith ex r pressed the opinion that it would take a great deal of money to'put the-whole of New Zealand on a really good: footing with regard to fire prevention and extinction if a comprehensive Act dealing with the matter is passed.