FEWER FIRE CALLS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26393, 11 April 1951, Page 8

FEWER FIRE CALLS

FIGURES FOR 1950 51 PENALTY FOR MALICIOUS FALSE ALARMS A decision to ask the Urban Fire Authorities’ Association to draw the attention of the Justice Department to heavier penalties under the Fire Services Act for giving malicious false alarms was made by the Christchurch Fire Board last evening. Comment was made on the “light” penalties recently imposed in Christchurch. Fifty-five calls were answered by the Christchurch Fire Brigade in March, against 51 in March last year Property fires were 20 (15). chimney fires 5 <?>• hedge, grass and rubbish fires 10 44). Calls for the year ended March 31 were 796, compared with 948 last year. Of those. 245 ' 289) were actual pro<2o4) chimney fires, 105 (IK) hedge, grass and rubbish ,£, es ’,™ malicious false alarms. *3l ( 106) automatic false alarms, 85 Gl4) false alarms from various causes • *u th i Property fires, 199 (245) were in the fire district, 29 (31) were outside the district but protected by the board, and 17 (13) were in unprotected districts in the metropolitan area. Referring to the increase of malicious false alarms in March, Mr W. R. Campbell said that very light penalties for the offence had been imposed recently by the Courts "Die chairman (Mr T. M. Charters): ta d *^5 t S ° myself ’ Two men were

The new Fire Services Act provided penalties of three months’ imprisonCampbelf fl “ e ° f Up to £lOO, said Mr Mr Charters: The same thing struck roe.

. Is ere - an ? wa y 016 board can draw the attention of the Magistrates to the new provisions?” asked Mr Campbell. Could the boards' associaaSrk^to J? ke the question up the Justice Department or could representations be made on behalf “Cjboard to the magistrate when the next case was heard? in n, Chart f rs: The officer appearing m the next case could call for a he ajder penalty, according to the Act. i. to * be careful that there r of Court,” said Mr SK“b.t te'd?-"”* “•

♦h?4 ,p f rintei ? dent A - Morrison replied matenf'ehi un J°i? lble t 0 ? ive an estimate of the cost because minutes might wh»i? S thl n i. a?ls^erinß a g enui ne call when the brigade was out on a false

what e to°rin d 1 ? he Magistrates wL? ik’ Charters emphasised. When the board decided to make the Just ice Department. Mr F. Clissold said an examnle givers or fail 0 b i e made of one °r two givers of false alarms and the number of offences would fall off nurnc,cr