Lack of warning system criticised

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33063, 2 November 1972, Page 16

Lack of warning system criticised

The lives of more than 1000 students and staff of the primary division of the Christchurch Teachers’ College were under daily threat because the buildings had no fire warning system, the college’s Students’ Association executive said last evening. In a statement, the executive expressed concern at what it regarded as excessive delays in installing a fire and earthquake warning device. The matter was first brought up, several years ago and investigations were made but still no system had been installed. “Every day this situation is allowed to continue is a threat to the lives of over 1000 students and staff,” said the statement. The students said that they were concerned that because of the eventual move, probably by 1975, of the primary division of the college to Ham, the matter was being put off for financial reasons. At its meeting last evening, the Christchurch Teachers’ College Council also expressed concern “that efforts to obtain adequate fire protection and egress procedures for staff and students at both sites of the college are not achieving satisfactory results.”

The College Council supported a recommendation of its buildings committee that

a deputation from the council meet the Department of Education to press for urgency on the matter, as it related to existing buildings and those being planned.