FIRE PROTECTION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18072, 14 May 1924, Page 2

FIRE PROTECTION.

meeting of board. The meeting of the Christchurch Firs Board last- night was attended by Messrs A. Williams (chairman), J. K. Cameron, P. H. Harris, H. Holland, E. H. Andrews, and. H. R. Rusbridge. ; The superintendent reported that 33 calls were received during the past month; 13 false Uaruia (J) and hedge. fires, one tar fire,, and 14 actual fires. The estimated, fire . loss was £1212, insurances being £14,000, and value of property affected 435,315. f The superintendent recommended that' owing to the enlarged fire- protection area: three additional permanent firemen should bq ongaged as from July Ist. -He also recommended thai the 10s weekly bonus now paid to the men should become part of their, weekly wage, and that the full amount should be the standard wage of the manent staff. V ' Mr Cameron said, he understood it was arranged last • year that the bonus should become part of the weekly wage. The secretary said there was no resolution to that effect. ],

Mr H. Holland said the proposed increases in wage 3 would swallow up the extra amount received from the outside contributing bodies. The increase in... the; staff as recommended by the superintendent was really for the benefit of the outside districts as opposed to the interests of the city. Mr Harris said that the interests of the ci'tv were the first consideration of the Briprtdc. nnH if all the personnel and nlant were required .at a city fire they would be available. " » x ' Mr Holland said that part of the" personnel and plant, might be (Steady engaged at an outside fire when V fire broke out in the city and the defence of the city would in such a case be weakened to the extent of the absent personnel- and plant. . The matter of increased vay and staff was referred to the Financo Committee to consider. and report to the' next meeting. , Regarding the recent fire at the \Vo->]ston Tanneries the stated that: On' April 10th. at 9.26 p.m., the Brigade waa called to-the Tanneries. On arrival it was seen that, the five had obtained a firm hold of the' building and contents'. The Brigade's- work was, therefore, confined to saving the adjoining property, and'iafter a strenuous fight their work .was successful. The damage was very considerable . and would not he finally assessed for some time. .

.A.proposal to place £4500 'on the cstiirintea to rebui'dthe Sydenham station was. he'd over pending an inspection of the pro--party.- " • ■ i was < iairreed to urge the Mininter of .Internal Affair? to .have the Fire,. Brigades Act amended to make the board's financial, year close. on March, Slstj <4? iplace. of June 30tli, as at present. . Mr Holland said that at present mcon-. venience and delay resulted from the -Board s year!' closing oil June 30th, and of the City- Council. on' March ■ 31st/ ■ for the -CityCouncil, which 'contributed 50_ percent*, of 'the Board's revenue, required- to /borrow the amount of their contribution in 'preparation of\theiV estimates three months before the Board's financial year closed, and when the new e- titnates were prepared. : : Regarding the Hendon street fire and the allied difficulty of the ; Brieode ini locating • the' fire plug in .Hills road, the cKairmm said that according to -a—report received from the foreman waa a de? lay of two or three minutes ;• in locating the plug, which was covered over owing t 0 She road fieing under, repairs. Originally, She "chairman. said', the. plug; was six^leet,, irom the building line, but since Hills road plug n°» stood lb feet from tho' r . ■ ..... " Mr Rusbridffe said he was satisfied wittt the reports ,of .the officers,, the, statement by the citv surveyor that the -plug was - <iuite visible the next morning ,•*««, doubt correct, for it wa« finally located; and uncovered bv the firemen the previous evenine. ' The city surveyor's statement Jhat the phig -wofl use! by the rend toMt on the mornint* provious mi?ht also be quite correct, but in the meantime, the _ repair work, during the day had probably cohered up'the plug. ■ "The Board'accented the explanation of itsofficers and decided to ask the City Council, to instruct thfeir men to leave the_ plugs uncovered when road formation v was in pro- £ reW - n : - ' x "