NEW FIRE-ENGINE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 182, 29 April 1933, Page 9

NEW FIRE-ENGINE

Tender Accepted by Board BODY N.Z. MANUFACTURE For some time the Wellington Fire Board has been considering the advisability of securing a new fire engine to replace one that has seen its best days, and is now costing more for repairs than it is worth. Tenders were called a few weeks ago, and these were considered by the board yesterday. The prices of the tenders ranged from less than £9OO to more than The dimensions and capacity, engine power, adaptability to hill-climbing, pump capacity. etc., of each of the machines tendered for. were examined by experts with an exact knowledge of what was required for local conditions. ... , _ , The result, was that the British Ford (made at Daganham, on the Thames), was selected. This is what is known as a 2-ton V-8 Ford chassis, with a 300-400 gallon Hale-type rotary fire pump, with a New Zealand-manufactured body, built to the Fire Board’s requirements. The tender stated that 90 per cent, of the nump parts would be manufactured at the works of the company in Wellington. The motor that will be fitted to the trunk chassis will be of A'-S design, with a brake horse-power of 70, and. according to the tender, is the very latest development in performance and efficiency of the high-speed, heavy-duty, trucktype motor. The price is £B<S, which includes the locally-built body. All other tendered prices were at least double that amount. . The secretary, Mr. H. Snowden hairchild. stated that the chassis could be landed in Wellington in about six weeks time after the acceptance of the tender. The board’s decision had the approval of the superintendent, Mr. C. A. 'Woolley, and the inspector of fire brigades. Mr. K. Girling Butcher.