Board Again Discusses Crown And Fire Risks

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30213, 19 August 1963, Page 8

Board Again Discusses Crown And Fire Risks

The Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Board on Friday evening decided that if any member of the board knew of any fire hazards in buildings owned by the Crown he should refer his opinions to the Chief Fire Officer (Mr L. R. Osmond ) so that he could inspect the buildings and. if necessary take up the matter with the Ministry of Works. The District Commissioner of Works (Mr D. B. Dallas) wrote to the board asking that the Crown buildings criticised as fire hazards at the board’s July meeting should be named so that the Ministry of Works could determine whether the buildings criticised catne under the Ministry's control and thus were its responsibility for fire protection.

The board’s chairman (Mr W. R. Campbell) said that wide criticism of the fire hazards in Crown buildings had been made at the boards last meeting. He himself had criticised fire hazards in Crown buildings.

Mr Campbell said that he had visited the ministry's district architect (Mr Cornish) and told him that most of the Crown buildings he had criticised were in the North Island. Those in Canterbury that he had criticised were not the responsibility of the ministry. “Anxious To Co-operate” Mr Campbell said that Mr Cornish had been very genuinely anxious to cooperate in elimating any fire hazards from buildings for which the ministry w'as responsible. He ' would welcome information on any hazards of which board members or fire officers knew. Mr W. E. Olds said that any criticism of fire hazards in Crown buildings should

be put in the board's minutes, to protect the board should a serious fire break out later. Mr A. A. Adcock said he did not think this was necessary. A member could well criticise a bud Idling, but an inspection by Mr Osmond could prove the criticism unfounded. Mr T. F. Pedkin: Is the Ministry of works is trying to pass the buck? Is that the inference? Is it suggested that we should inspect all Crown buildings? Mr Campbell: I can assure you. from my talk with Mr Cornish that that is not the intent of the letter. The letter is merely in answer to general criticism at the board's last meeting. Responsibility Mr Perkin: What is the position if there is a serious fire in a building which we have not inspected? Is the M.O.W. going to hold us responsibile? Mr Campbell: No. It is the department’s responsibility. Mr E. R. McGrath: I think the letter is only in answer to to criticism at our last meeting We mentioned several types of Crown buildings, including schools. Mr Campbell: Only the post primary schools come under the M O W. Mr Perkin: I know of one building which I consider a serious fire hazard, buit I don't know which department is responsible for it. Mr Osmond: I think that, as a result of recent highlevel discussions, the Crown may say that departmental buildings come under local building by-laws. That will make the matter of fire hazards clear cut and easy to eliminate. There has been a tendency for the Crown to hold that it is not found by by-laws. When the Crown says Government buildings come under by-laws we can ' do some tidying up.