“FIRE BRIGADE, PLEASE!”

Evening Star, Issue 19186, 1 March 1926, Page 8

“FIRE BRIGADE, PLEASE!”

THE TELEPHONE'S PART UNIFORM NUMBER IMPRACTICABLE In Dunedin’s telephone directory tho Central Fire Station has pride of place, and few people have to consult tho department's guide to discover that ‘‘One” is its short and easily remembered number- Rut tho system of numbering the stations in other parts lias perplexed some of the firemen, with tho result that a delegate brought before the conference of the United Fire Brigades’ Association to-day a proposal for a uniform number throughout tho dominion.

This delegate, Secretary Young (Levin) mentioned that at a social reunion in Levin the rather surprising discovery was made that not one of the business men present know’, off-hand, tbo number of tho lire station. Standardisation Was needed, particularly in places that had automatic exchanges. Past President Barnard seconded the proposal. He recalled a request to that effect that had been referred to the Minister of Internal Affairs, but which had gone no further than submission to the Post and Telegraph Department, with whom, of course, the last word rested. He was in entire sympathy -with the suggestion, though lie doubted if it were practicable. He spoke of the prevalence of liaise alarms, most of which originated in slot telephones. The brigades needed more protection than they were getting, There was no end of false alarms, but it was a matter for the Post and Telegraph engineers to decide what mechanical means of detection could he devised.

Secretary Watts said that a uniform system would bo impracticable hi a city where there were different brigades. A delegate mentioned that most of the false alarms came from slot machines. Detection might he possible if when tho brigade was rung from a slot machine a siren was set going, An amendment that tho telephone numbers of all fire brigades and fire superintendents be printed in the front of telephone directories was carried finally, and it was decided to submit a copy of the proposal to the department.