Fire Prevention Aim Of Mr Mathison’s Bill

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30561, 2 October 1964, Page 14

Fire Prevention Aim Of Mr Mathison’s Bill

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, October 1. Mr J. Mathison (Opp., Avon) will introduce a private member’s bill in Parliament tomorrow proposing fire alarm systems, fire wardens, alarm tests and evacuation drills for factories, shops, offices, hospitals, restaurants, aged people’s homes, hostels and accommodation houses.

His bill also applies its requirements to halls, theatres, race-track buildings and sports grounds and such places which accommodate the public or employ workers. Mr Mathison’s proposals originated in the report of the Royal Commission in 1947 which inquired into the fire in Ballantyne’s buildings, Christchurch, when 42 persons died.

In the absence of laws, except for local by-laws, to enforce the standards for fire alarm systems, egress codes and fire resisting construction, local members of the Labour Party in Christchurch and the executive of the Canterbury Trades Council decided to promote legislation. The convener of the committee appointed to make proposals for this legislation, Mr N. S. Wills, eailier this year urged the Trades Council to give urgent consideration to the proposal and appealed for union support. His letter to the council referred to instances where, at times of a fire alarm in their building, workers had either not been aware of an alarm or had watched from windows. Thousands of workers should receive instruction, but did not. Mr Wills, of the Shop Assistants’ Union, Mr G. G. Walker, secretary of the Fire Brigades Union in Christchurch, Mr T. H. Boyle, who is workers’ representative on the Christchurch Fire Board, and Mr L. N. Short, secretary

of the Hotel and Hospital Workers’ Union, have drawn up the bill which Mr Mathison will present. The committee held the whole position of fire safety was confused because of the many acts and amendments to them which embody what law there is regarding the safety and welfare of workers and the public in places of business and amusement Their bill is proposed to supersede fire safety provisions in other acts except the Shipping and Seamen’s Act and the Civil Aviation Act. Main Provisions Its main provisions are:— (1) Testing of fire alarms and trial evacuations every three months with the result being reported to the local fire board. (2) Alarms and bells to be installed in all buildings covered by the bill with call points on each floor or at not more than 100 ft walking distance apart in buildings with large areas. (3) Implementation of the egress code laid down in the standard specifications as a responsibility of owners and fire authorities.

(4) Appointment of a fire safety warden for each building with deputies on each floor to supervise evacuation. (5) Partial exemption from the evacuation provisions for hospitals and similar institutions. (6) That it shall be an offence, punishable by a fine up to £lOO, to fail to carry out the three-monthly tests or to evacuate a building on the sounding of an alarm. (7) A period of 12 months is allowed to make alterations and installations required by the bill. (8) Administration of the law by the local fire board or urban fire authority. Mr Mathison was given the leave of the House today to introduce the bill. Because Parliament has resolved that Government business shall' take precedence at this stage of the session it is unlikely the bill will proceed beyond its introduction unless the Government elects to adopt it or have it examined by a committee.