FIRE ESCAPES

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 53, 30 August 1940, Page 9

FIRE ESCAPES

FURTHER POWERS

INSPECTION OF BUILDINGS

CLAUSE APPROVED

Increased powers are being given to municipalities to deal with the question of fire escapes in buildings used for residential purposes, and also to safeguard the public when buildings have been made dangerous through fire damage. Early this morning the House of Representatives added a clause to the Statutes Amendment Bill, on the motion of the Attorney-General (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason), giving an inspector of buildings power, in connection with residential buildings of two storeys or more in height, to make inspections to ascertain the fire escapes provision, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. in the case of residential buildings and during ordinary business hours in other instances. Obstruction of this official will render any person liable to a fine of £50. Municipal corporations are empowered', where an order has been made requiring any dangerous building to be taken down or. secured, to carry out the work in default by the owner, and to register the cost as a first charge on the land. ' The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) emphasised - the necessity for taking every precaution to prevent risk in view of the fact that so many fires were taking place. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. I Fraser) said the provision was absolutely necessary. He referred to .a | case where a girl had been trapped - because a window was nailed up. "Local bodies are not doing inspection tO the extent they, should," he commented. Mr. Parry: They say they have not had the power. Mr. Fraser: If a local body were in dead earnest it would go ahead and do it. The clause was approved.