DOMINION’S FIRE WASTE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 14, 11 October 1927, Page 8

DOMINION’S FIRE WASTE

IS THERE A REMEDY? Dominion Special Service. Auckland, October 10. “Losses bv fire in New Zealand have grown unfit to-day we are faced with an appalling annual national loss.” This was the statement made to-day to members of the Auckland Rotary Club by Mr. H. M. Didsbury, manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company. Mr. Didsbury proceeded to ask how much of this loss was really accidental, how much was due to negligence and rank carelessness. He continued thus: “It must be obvious to everyone that most of our fire waste is preventible because during the latter war years and up to 1921, when values were constantly rising, the fire waste was comparatively low.'Since 1921, when times commenced to be hard, when failures and disappointment crowded in, the fire waste grew. I have no doubt whatever that mncJi of the loss can be prevented, but it wants file co-opcration of the whole public to do it. It wants stricter supervision of such things as electric irons in the houses by the removal of the plug when the iron is finished with; by promptly calling the attention of power board inspectors to anything unusual in the wiring or in the many electrical fittings now in use; by the care of fires often left unprotected when the occupiers are out or in bed; and bv exercising more care in the disposal of ashes. One of the common»t causes of fires, especially in the country, is defective and badlv-built chimneys. This is a most difficult'matter to detect after a house is built, and the remedy must be effected by closer supervision when building is in operation.”