FIRE PREVENTION METHODS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14686, 7 June 1913, Page 7

FIRE PREVENTION METHODS.

HOW CHRISTCHURCH

STANDS.

OBSERVATIONS BY MR A. L.

PARSONS.

Whilst on a visit to Australia recently. Mr A. L. Parsons, chairman of tho Christchurch Fire Board and manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company in this city, interested | himself in fire brigade matters, and visited firo brigade stations and inspected tho plant and appliances provided for preventing and dealing with fires. Mr Parsons' trips was undertaken, however, for health purposes, and tho greater portion of the time he was in Australia ho spent very quietly at Manly. In addition to visiting Sydney, Mr Parsons was also iv Melbourne, Adelaide, and Ballarat. In a short interview with a representative of "Tho Press," Mr Parsons gave tho result of his observationd in tho cities mentioned. "So far as tho provision of plant and appliances for coping with - outbreaks of fire is concerned," Mr Parsons said, "Christchurch is well up-to-date ,as compared with Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. The new station in Christchurch will give better accommodation for its size than is tho ease of tho stations in tho Australian cities I visited. The engine-room is biggor than in either of tho stations in Sydney, Melbourne, or Adelaide. As to plant and appliances, though wo havo not the same quantity, our plant and appliances compare very favourably with those on the other'side. Sydney has a Donnis-Cwynne motor, but its capacity is only 350 gallons as compared with 450 gallons, tho capacity of tho Christchurch motor of tho same make. In all three cities horses are still used, though they arc being got rid of gradually; as soon ns wo get into our new station, they will bo done away with in Christchurch altogether. Tho only particular in which Christchurch is lacking is fire-ladders', and these are a necessity. Sydney possesses a Simonis electric fire-ladder'— a very fino thing. Auckland is obtaining one. Its great advantage 13 that it is electrically driven—electric celb being carried ori the bonnet—and tho raising of the ladder is also done by electricity. It appeared to be very effective, and was well spoken of. In Sydney, where they were allowed to build to a height of 150 feet, fireladders are an absolute necessity. The height of buildings in Christchurch is also increasing, and the Board has recognised that it would havo to get a more modern ladder than the one it possesses at present. With this exception—tho absence of a modern fireladder —I consider that, for its size, Christchurch is well up-to-dat© in th© provision made for dealing with fires."