FIRE ALARMS ON POLES

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

FIRE ALARMS ON POLES

POST OFFICE POLICY OF ELIMINATION

ALTERNATIVE POSITIONS TO BE SOUGHT

The future siting of fire alarm boxes in the central area of Christchurch was discussed by the Christchurch Fire Board at its meeting last evening, after a letter had been received from the Post and Telegraph Department advising the board that the department’s policy in outside plant construction was to eliminate polos in the central city area. When this was done there would be no alternative for the board but to provide suitable street standards on which to mount the alarms.

The elimination of the poles would be done only gradually, however, and it was likely to be several years at least before The department’s poles in the central area were done away with, said the letter. Where poles were decayed they would be removed and, in general, replaced. It was not the department’s policy at present to dispense with poles in. the suburban areas.

The chairman (Mr C. Baldwin) said it looked as if the time would come when the board would have to take its alarms off these poles. There had, however, been no indication that the Municipal Electricity Department's poles were going to disappear, and it was possible that these could be used. Mr W. P. Warner said he considered the board should have the design of a suitable standard drawn up. Mr N. R. Forbes suggested that owners of business premises in the area might allow the alarm boxes to be attached to their buildings. Mr Warner suggested the superintendent (Mr L. R. Osborne) should discuss the matter with the City Engineer. This was agreed to.