FIRE-PROTECTION SERVICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1941, Page 3

FIRE-PROTECTION SERVICE

SCHEME FOR EXPANSION. [per press association.] WELLINGTON, February 16. That the Government is to spend £76,000 on the expansion of New Zealand’s fire-protection service and that local bodies will provide a further £45,000 under the emergency precautions schemes, was announced by the Minister for Finance (Mr. Nash) at the annual reunion of the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade on Saturday night. In making its decision to increase both the personnel and the equipment of fire fighting forces in preparation for dealing efficiently with fires resulting from a possible enemy attack, the Government, said the Minister, had acted on the advice of fire brigade superintendents and officers of the defence services. “Before the war, arrangements were made for local authorities to expand their fire protection services up to the standard required for an emergency such as a major earthquake,” said Mr. Nash. “It is recognised, however that to deal with fires likely to arise from enemy attack still further expansion would be necessary.” The equipment to be provided comprised principally trailer pumps, similar to those used for air-raid precautions purposed in Britain. These were being entirely manufactured in New Zealand, with the exception of the motors, said the Minister. Other major expenditure was for fire hose. It was not possible to manufacture this locally, but supplies were being obtained both from the United States and Britain.

“In fire brigade personnel there will, of course, have to be a corresponding increase over the peace time complement,” he added. “These additional workers will consist of volunteer patrols equipped for handling fires in incipient stages, and an auxiliary fire-fighting force which will consist partly of volunteer additions to existing brigades, and partly of a unit for service in cities and the larger towns, where a higher standard of training is necessary. This will be organised on similar lines to the territorial forces, but on a civil basis.” Regulations for the organisation of those forces were in hand. It was expected that a definite announcement would be made in the next few days.