BURNING-OFF BY PAINTERS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27092, 15 July 1953, Page 3

BURNING-OFF BY PAINTERS

FIRE BOARD’S VIEWS ON PRECAUTIONS NEW BY-LAW ADVOCATED A deputation from the Christchurch Fire Board will wait on the by-laws committee of the Christchurch City Council to seek the adoption of a bylaw that would require any persons engaged in burning-off paint from buildings to have available an approved fire extinguisher. This decision was made at last evening’s meeting of the board. A letter was received from the council, in reply to earlier representations from the board on the same lines, saying that the council had asked the Master Painters’, Decorators’ and Signwriters’ Guild for its views on the subject. The council was advised of the precautions taken by members of the guild when burning-off paint, and these appeared adequate. In the circumstances, the council did not believe such a by-law as suggested was necessary.

“It is not the members of the guild we are trying to get at, but the amateur painters.’’ said the chairman (Mr C. Baldwin). “I don’t think we should allow the matter to rest there.”

“I am also very disappointed with this decision,” said Mr W. R. Campbell. “I do- not think it is only the amateur painters we want covered. There have been several occasions when the brigade has been called out to fires of this type, when master painters have been doing the work, and it has been found they were not carrying out any precautions. If all these precautions were carried out. there would not be any fires. If all the painters knew the liability they were under, they would take these precautions.”

On the suggestion of Mr Baldwin it was decided to send a deputation to wait on the by-laws committee.