FIRE PREVENTION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18921, 9 February 1927, Page 9

FIRE PREVENTION.

UNION BUILDING BLAZE. WERE REGULATIONS OBSERVED?

Reference to tho recent firo in the Union Buildings, Cashel street, was made at last evening's meeting of the Chris'church Firo Board when members were discussing methods of fire prevention. Mr K. W. Robinson said that it was hie,'', time that there was a by-law in the Board's regulations empoweringtlio Superintendent of the Bngado to inspect right-of-ways l«tween buildings and to order the removal of inflammahle materials. "The fire in the Union Buildings commenced in packing cases," he said, "and some responsible nuthority allowed an extension of a brick wall running uorili and south and a patchwork job of an iron wall running east and wos.l i» an old iron building adjoining Turnbull and Jo!u--\ workshop. This was what caused • > Brigade so mmli trouble. These matters should be enquired into because our Board lias a great deal lit stake.''

I he chairman (Mr A. Williams)! The lives of the firemen nro at stake! A member: One man very nearly loab his life in that lire.

u sfr i { JO,,i " !!0,,: I suggest that tho Ijnatxl has the right to enquire into tins.

Iho chairman: It has tho right that anv private citizen possesses. Mr Robinson moved that tho Board enouire of the City Council if the building by-laws were followed in connexion with the extension of the rear of tho Union Buildings. It was to be pointed out that the north irall of the extended portion was constructed of galvanised iron, and this inferior construction resulted in the spread of the lire from Turnhull and Jones's workshop into the Union Buildings. rhe motion was carried. A further resolution was passed instructing the Board's solicitor to draw up a hv-law whereby the Rnnerinttn. dent should hare authority to order the removal of kerosene, explosives, empty crates, and piirlcages. hav, straw, shavings, and other inflammable Jnatennl in right-of-ways adjoining buildings. )