FIRE WASTE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 113, 9 November 1929, Page 11

FIRE WASTE

SUGGESTED BOARD

TO HOLD' INQUIRIES

Fire waste in New Zealand has been receiving the attention of the Government. In his recent report, Captain T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades of the Dominion, drew pointed attention to the enormous fire waste of the Dominion. The matter has received the very careful consideration of the Government, and, referring to the subject to-day, the Minister of Internal Affairs (the ,Hon. P. A. do laPerelle) said ho had been in conference with the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata, Minister-in-Charge of the State Fire Insurance Department, and it was intended to bring proposals before the Government. .

"Representations have from time to time been made as .to the desirability iof appointing a Commission," said the Minister, "to inquire into the cause or causes of the abnormal fire losses and the methods to be adopted in remedy thereof, or to appoint a permanent organisation to investigate causes of fires from time to time and make recommendations in regard thereto. The Council of Fire Underwriters, representing the insurance companies, the Inspector of Fire Brigades, and the General Manager of the- State Fire Office, have recently jointly suggested to the Government that legislation be introduced with a view of appointing a board to be known as the Fire Investigation Board, to consist of not more than five members representing the various interests concerned, and including the Inspector of Fire Brigades for the time being. "It is suggested that the .functions of the board would include the- following:— '

'' (a) To investigate the cause of a firo wnere considered desirable to recommend that Magisterial inquiries be held.

"(b) To make recommendations to the Government and to local bodies as to tho measures which are considered from time to time necessary for the prevention of fires.

"(c) To issue papers and leaflets and otherwise interest the public on the subject of fire prevention. "For the purposes of tho board, it would be necessary for it to control skilled officers, who would have statutory authority to- make investigations and report to the board. It is believed that" the expenses which would be entailed in connection with the administration, would be a comparatively small sum, and would be much more than justified^ While it is not, ■of course, possible to deal with tho 'mattor during the present session, and consequently the proposals have not yet been placed before Cabinet, it is-pro-posed at an early date to have the matter dealt with by Cabinet in order, if the proposal is approved, to have the necessary legislation drafted for submission to Parliament next session when ample opportunity will be given for all representations to be fully considered."