FIRE PROTECTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 26, 31 January 1941, Page 9

FIRE PROTECTION

JOHNSONVILLE NEEDS

APPROACH TO THE BOARD

HOUSING EXPANSION

Means of affording adequate fire protection ir the JohnsonviUe town district were discussed by the Wellington Fire Board today, when the Town Clerk of Johnsonville asked for an extensoin of the service now available at Khandallah. Members decided to seek a report from the superintendent and then to invite members of the Johnsonville Town Board to meet representatives of the board to discuss the .position.

The Town Clerk's letter asked if the board would consider linking the Johnsoruville town district with the Khandallah fire station by means .of an alarm system. An endeavour was being made to form a volunteer brigade in the district, and a greater measure of protection would b- afforded if still further facilities were made available through the board's service.

' . The chairman (Mr. S. S. Dean).said it was .only a.matter of time when Johnsonville would become a part of Wellington City, .and he understood negotiations in this direction'were at present going on. between. the Town Board and the Wellington City Council. When that change took place the question of fire protection would naturally follow.

, Mr. M. F. Luckie said the board should not wait for this development, but steps should be taken immediately •to see how the district could be met from Khandallah.

The point was made by members that with the erection of large blocks of State houses, the fire protection position at Johnsonville was fast becoming urgent.

The superintendent (Mr. C. A. Woolley) said the centre of Johnsonville could be reached from the Khandallah station in three -minutes, and, in fact a better service could be given Johnsonville than some of Wellington's outlying suburbs.

Members agreed that the question of helping Johnsonville town district should not be postponed until,the proposed absorption of the district in the city, and when the superintendent has reported on the technical aspects representatives of the two . bodies will meet and discuss methods of meeting the position. &