FIRE IN TIMARU FLOURMILL

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23301, 10 April 1941, Page 12

FIRE IN TIMARU FLOURMILL

BOARD TO HAVE FULL REPORT (F.0.0.R.) TIMARU, April 9. “We have never considered it within our province to criticise on hearsay evidence the efficiency of the Christchurch Fire Brigade,” said Mr W. H. Hall (chairman of the Timaru Fire Board), when making a statement in reply to the remarks of Mr K. W. Robinson at the meeting of the Christchurch Fire Board, reported in "The Press” yesterday morning. “I consider it strange that Mr Robinson should make statements on hearsay evidence without first inquiring for the facts from the Timaru Fire Board,” Mr Hall said. He said that he had called for a full report on the fire in the flourmill attached to the biscuit 'factory of Messrs J. Bruce and Company, at Timaru, from the officers of the brigade, and this would be considered at a meeting of the Timaru Fire Board soon after Easter. “It must be remembered that this five-storey building was well alight from the first floor to the top floor and to the roof, and a considerable loss was unfortunately suffered. If J. R. Bruce and Company had availed themselves of the opportunity to install an alarm system, which would have given the brigade the early call so necessary for efficient fire protection, then no doubt the loss would have been no greater than at a similar outbreak which occurred in another Timaru flourmill a fortnight previously, which resulted in a loss of only £15,” Mr Hall said. “All the facts will be investigated and reported on at the next meeting of the board.” ______ ,