BALLANTYNE’S FIRE INQUIRY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25446, 18 March 1948, Page 6

BALLANTYNE’S FIRE INQUIRY

Brigade’s Equipment And

Staff Discussed

COMMISSION HEARS DEPUTYSUPERINTENDENT

Although 100 men would have been needed for Ballantyne’s fire, the daily effective strength of the Christchurch Fire Brigade, supplemented by suburban brigades, was 36, said Deputy-Superintendent George Barnes in his examination before the Royal Commission of Inquiry yesterday. When he arrived in Cashel street at 4.20 p.m. the leads were inadequate, said Mr Barnes. Only three leads were in operation and he had another five leads delivered.

“Second to none in New Zealand,” was Mr Barnes’s description of the equipment of the fire brigade. The only suggestions he made were for a bigger supply of Roberts respirators and a more modern electric ladder. He also suggested means by which fire-fighting service could be made more attractive to recruits.

Mr Barnes was- the last of the fire brigade witnesses to be called by the Crown, whose senior counsel (Mr G. G. G. Watson) said that Superintendent A. Morrison would be called -= later by counsel for the fire board (Mr J. D. Hutchison).

“Concerning the fireman who Mr Falkingham and other witnesses describe as being taken into Goodman’s building towards the cellar entrance there. Mr Hutchison has agreed with me to inform the commission that no fireman other than Dobson can say who went into Goodman’s building with Or without Falkingham,” said Mr Watson.

“That does not preclude us from finding that someone did,” commented the chairman (Sir Harold Johnston). “No,” replied Mr Watson, “and I may have to, submit something in the way the evidence tends on that point.”

Mr Hutchison said that the fire board would say that the only man who went into the building was Dobson, and the only other man near him was Stockwell. “Six different witnesses—five civilians and a sergeant of police—-speak of having spoken to a member of the brigade as to the people in the building,” said Mr T. P. Cleary (for Ballantyne’s). “Up to the moment, no brigade witness has spoken of any such conversation as being with him. In case it is necessary at some late stage to make some submissions on that point, I suggest Mr Hutchison might see, in a like manner, whether any brigadesman not called can throw any light on that feature.”

An announcement was also made by Mr Watson that Police evidence would be given later as to the finding of the bodies, in view of the evidence of Officer Shah, which, he understood, was not borne out by the Police. The commission will adjourn to-

sit continuously -until April 23 hearing evidence. An adjournment will then be made till May 25 for the hearing of submissions by counsel. The commission was originally charged to report by April 30, but an extension of time from the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry) will be applied for.

morrow until April 6. and will then