STREET FIRE ALARMS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27038, 13 May 1953, Page 12

STREET FIRE ALARMS

REMOVAL OF POLES SETS PROBLEMS

CITY COUNCIL’S ADVICE TO BE SOUGHT

The progressive removal of power poles because of the Transport Board’s change from trams to buses has posed a problem for the Christchurch Fire Board. In a report to the board last evening, the superintendent (Mr A. Morrison) said that in future it would be difficult to secure poles to carry the existing street fire alarm call boxes. The time was approaching, Mr Morrison said, when an alternative to street poles would have to be found to permit the use of the street fire alarm system. Amplifying his report, Mr Morrison said that one pole in St. Asaph street had already been removed, and the fire alarm wires were hanging, from a building. He suggested that the board should erect standards to hold the boxes, but it would need authority to PUL them in. He had brought the matter forward so that the board could determine the legal position about the erection of poles in public places. Mr W. P. Warner said the Post and Telegraph Department’s policy seemed to be to put lines underground. Mr Morrison said that in a newly-built area north of Innes road there were no poles, and therefore no alarm bozes. There were two telephone boxes in the area. The chairman (Mr C. Baldwin) said that, until the board had the direct dialling number, telephones would be a hindrance rather than a help in re-

porting fires. The board agreed to seek the advice of the City Council about the erection of poles, and to ask the Post and Telegraph Department about its policy on poles._