Fire Boards’ Opposition To Chassis-only Imports

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29942, 2 October 1962, Page 14

Fire Boards’ Opposition To Chassis-only Imports

An application for the reclassification of fire-fighting appliances in import schedules seeking the admission of chassis only, so that all engineering work would be done in New Zealand, will be resisted by fire authorities The Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board has already protested to the Comptroller of Customs (Mr J. F Cummings) and other boards are likely to follow.

Mr W. R. Campbell, chairman of the Christchurch board, who is a member of the executive of the New Zealand Urban Fire Authorities' Association, said last evening that the / latest move had been expected from “certain interests" who were pressing for tighter controls while the

boards were pressing for a relaxation of the present restrictions. Fire boards can now unport the engineered chassis (with pump and attachments) of fire engines and the body is manufactured in New Zealand “We have asked the Government to leave the matter as it is until the import restrictions can be eased to allow the importation of fully-built engines from Britain, Mr Campbell said. Very little would be saved tn overseas funds by the new proposal, Mr Campbell said, as only about 11 or 12 engines were bought each year by the metropolitan fire boards. Many of the smaller brigades bought the older appliances from the city brigades Nor would there be any saving in time, he said. A fully - assembled appliance could be brought from Britain quicker than it would take a chassis to arrive ip New Zealand and have all the body and engineering work done locally Christchurch did not have a new machine on order, he srid. The board, although it had not discussed the matter recently, had deliberately held off ordering a machine in the hope that the restrictions would be relaxed and it would be able to import a machine made and equipped in Britain. In its protest, the Auckland board has said that the new application would have the effect of increasing the price of the machines on which the board has standardised by 15 or 20 per cent and would limit the availability of the range of fire appliances. “I don’t know the costs, but I would say the estimate is conservative." Mr Campbell said.

Rear-Admiral P Phipps. Chief of Naval Staff, has accepted appointment as Dominion Commissioner for Sea Scouts, the Sea Scout adviser for the Auckland area. Commissioner H. J. Eaton, announced last night —(P.A.) „