MALICIOUS CALLS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 20, 18 October 1930, Page 8

MALICIOUS CALLS

Brigade’s Excursions FIVE ONE DAY Visit to Government House Included in five malicious false alarms received in one day recently by the Wellington I’ire Brigade was a call to Government House, where it was alleged the laundry was on Are. Three of the alarms were given within as many minutes, and at one stage every engine and tireman was out. The seriousness of such a state of affairs was emphasised at a meetirg of the Board yesterday, when ways and means of suppressing the mischief were discussed. The superintendent of the fire brigade, Mr. J. Creeke, said there bad been quite a raid of malicious calls last month and this. On October 1 five malicious false alarms were given, the calls being to Government House at 4.53 p.m., to Karori 4.54 •'.in., to Happy Valley at. 6126 p.m., to Miramar at 6.27 p.m., and to Karori at 6.28 p.m. The total for the month was 30. It was very difficult to detect the offenders, as the calls were given through a third party, he added. Mr. S. S. Dean said he thought it would be advisable to offer a reward for information leading to a conviction. There were far too many false alarms. No Power to Grant Reward. The chairman, Mr. N. W. Nelson, said he was under the impression that there was nothing in the Act giving the board power to grant a reward. It would be unauthorised expenditure. Mr. Dean: I think we have the power. The superintendent suggested that offenders should be seven ly dealt with. The offence was too serious to be passed over lightly. Its seriousness was borne out by the fact that recently all the men and engines were out answering calls which were found to be malicious. Mr. Dean agreed that a heavy penalty should be insisted upon. Mr. Marcus Marks said the board could rest assured that persons found guilty of such an offence would not escape lightly. The difficulty was to catch them. Mr. C. D. Morpeth inquired whether the calls caine through the telephone. The superintendent: Yes. The call we received to Government House came through the phone. We were told that the laundry was on fire. A Suggestion. Mr. Marks said the brigade should insist on callers announcing their telephone number. That, he suggested, might reduce the number of false alarms. A voice: They wouldn’t do it. Mr. Marks: Well, wouldn’t that prove they were not bona-fide callers? The superintendent said that in any event the brigade would have to turn out. It could not afford to take risks. Mr. Marks: It might have a deterrent effect if we made it public that the board insisted on callers announcing their phone number. What the Act Provides. Mr. Morpeth: They would give any numbers that came into their heads. You cannot get over that difficulty. Mr. Dean said he thought the most sensible suggestion was to offer a reward. The chairman said he would like it to go out that the Act provided for a term of imprisonment not exceeding one month and a fine not exceeding £5O. “I hope the Press will bring that under the notice of the public,” he added. Mr. Dean said that magistrates might take into consideration a suggestion that offenders should be made to pay the reward. Mr. Morpeth; It is a pity someone could not invent something that would take a flashlight photo of everyone who rings up the brigade. (Laughter.).