Hotel Fire

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31598, 8 February 1968, Page 10

Hotel Fire

Sir, —“Appalled Underwriter” repeats the oftexpressed theme that insurance companies, by laying down standards of required fire protection, are in a position to remedy the high fire loss wastage in this country. If he does follow the occupation suggested by his nom-de-plume he would be well aware of the impracticability of his suggestion by reason of the highly competitive nature of fire insurance business. Second, and more important, is the fact that statutory authority for making fire safety requirements is already conferred on local bodies. For licensed hotels, added authority lies in the hands of the Licensing Commission. The need for further law-makers does' no* exist. What is lacking is a national code which defines the size, etc., of hotels and accommodation houses in which the installation of automatic fire detector systems would be mandatory. This is the feeling of the Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Board, and the New Zealand Urban Fire Authorities’ Association has repeatedly urged legislation to this effect. —Yours, etc., W. R. CAMPBELL. February 7, 1968.