FIRE BOARD.

Grey River Argus, 12 December 1928, Page 6

FIRE BOARD.

ORDINARY MEETING. The quarterly meeting of the Greymouth Fire Board was held at the Board’s office last evening there being present Mes rs J. Steer (Chairman), J. McGinley, 11. C. Green. F. C. Haycroft, and G. Perotti. The Superintendent (Mr T. Clarke) and Sec rotary (Mr F. Barrowman) were also present. It was resolved that the old steam fire engine be kept open for sale for a further period. WATER SUPPLY. Mr Haycroft asked if anything had been done to improve the pressure of water for fire prevention purposes since rhe late fire at the premises of D. McLean, Ltd. The Secretary replied that a by-pass pipe had been put in so as to allow an increased pressure t 0 be pumped straight into the mains, without the water going into the reservoir, thus giving from nin e to twenty pounds pressure. Mr McGinley expressed satisfaction with this improve inent. A report from Inspector Hugo was read, in which he stated that the supply of water was inadequate the mains not being large enough, an J the pressure defective, and that thi matter called for the attention of the Board. A letter was received from the Borough Council advising that provision is made in loan proposals for Council to take stops to have largei or extra mains provided, to give a guaranteed pressure of water when re quired. The Chairman'said the Board could not do much in this matter. Mi McGinley said the loan poll would probably be held in April, as to hold it prior to the municipal elections woul-i exist £lOO. Mr Haycroft moved that the intimation as to a by-pass being installed, diverting the water straight from the pumps to the mains in time of fire be recorded in the minutes. Mr McGinley said this innovation would not give any greater pressure at the muthern end of the town. Mr Haycroft said it was the business end of

the town that gave the most concern. At McLean's fire the water shortage had bee?i a shocking one. The Chairman said that in any event the nature of that fire was such that the structure was doomed. The Borough Council was now taking the matter of the water supply in hand. Mr Green said the Council recognised the need for an improvement. Mr McGinley asked if the river pipes were all right, an J Superintendent Clarke said they were both found to be so last Monday, when tested. If a fire occurred near the waterfront, the river pipes were used at once. M r Haycroft’s motion was carried. GENERAL. The Under Secretary. D<partment of Internal Affairs, acknowledged receipt of copies of the Board’s balance sheet for nine months ended 31st March. 1928. and forwarded an account for 300 feet of “Camel” hose supplied. The Superintendent of the Nationa’ Provident Fund forwarded particulars of its superannuation system for employees of local bodies.

Canterbury Fire and Accident Underwriters’ Association acknowledged receipt of a copy of reports by Supt. Clarke on the water supply. Harwoods, Ltd, New Plymouth, offered luminous paint for sale, and J. O .Williams and Coy, Ashburton, quoted prices for siren fire horns. Supt. Clarke notified the appointment to the main Brigade of Mr Gordon Batty, from the High Street Auxiliary Brigade. This was approved. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Superintendent Clarke reported that for the past quarter there had been no fire call, the membership had been at full strength, and drills were regularly attended. Since last Board meeting there had been an improvement in the water pressure. There had come to hand 300 feet of new hose and couplings that had been for some tim' on order, and these had been placed in commission. As a new pattern of coupling ladder had been decided on for all future competitions, he requested the Board to authorise the purchase of one of these for the Brigade. He, recommended that authority be given to have the roof and outside walls, also the interior of the meeting room at Blaketown Station, painted; that at the Central Station new blinds and fittings be procured for the front room of the caretaker’s quarters, and that the kitchen, also the roof and outside woodwork of the stable and washhouse be painted. The Chairman moved that the coupl ing ladder recommended- be procured from Auckland, at a cost of £o, thc» length being 26 feet. It would be a handy ladder. Mr Haycroft pointed out that the ladder would be purely

for demonstration purposes, and he doubted if it were really needed. Th e Chairman said it would encourage the Brigade and promote efficiency. JTr Haycroft replied that the material used at the demonstrations was not that used to put out fires. The Sup erintendent said suitable gear for the demonstrations encouraged efficiency. Mr Haycroft remarked that at the demonstrations the brigades tended more and more to depart from the standard fire-fighting equipment, instead of using the material that was the most efii cient for the actual brigade work. Anything of that kind ought not to be encouraged. Why not carry out the demonstrations with th e standard equipment? The Chairman said he was sure Mr Haycroft was not sorry to alter the procedure, and was not against the ladder being secured. Mr Haycroft said he was not going to ob ject to the ladder being obtained, but would go further into the matter later. The Superintendent said Inspector Hugo recommended the ladder, which. Mr McGinley said, could be used at fires. Mr Perotti seconded the motion to adopt the recommendation, which was carried. The recommendations as to paintings etc, at the Central and Blaketowu Stations were, on the Chair man’s motion, adopted, and the report is a whole. .SUPERINTENDENT’S RESIGN A-. TION. Superintendent Clarke wrote, requesting the Board that, owing to failing health, his re ignation as Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, tendered in .Tune last, but then held over, be now finally accepted, to take effect as from the end of this quarter, viz, 31st inst. The Chairmail said the request meant a sudden change, and he would suggest that the Superintendent consent to remain in office until the end of the present year, March 31st next. Mr Haycroft said the Board should study the health of the Superintendent and a provisional appointment might be made. He asked what was the wi-h of the Brigade. The Chairman sug gCstcd that before doing anything the Board should ascertain the feeling of the Brigade. Mr Hay croft said Mr Clarke might hav e a recommendation. The Superintendent said he had no recommendation from the Brigade or himself. His attitude was that he did not feel he could do justice to the position, but if the lioard were satis tied that the other officers of the Bri gade could carry on und< r him efficient ly. he would be prepared to comply with the request to remain till March 31st next, but h e did uot desire to retain the post without being able to do it justice. Mr Ilaycroft moved that the Brigade be notified of the Superintendent’s intention to resign at the end of the financial year. The Chairman said the Board must do no thing to lose its prerogative of appointing a successor. Mr Haycroft said the Board would need to be in a position next meeting to make an appoint ment. Mr Perotti said he presumed the officers would be promoted in their order of seniority. The Chairman said thev should ascertain the wishes of the* Brigade a; to the member with whom they could get_on with most amicably. Mr Perotti said the senior officers were Deputy Superintendent Deere and Foreman White. The Chairman said they must find out whicc, Would be the most suitable. INSURANCE. The question of the Board’s insurance policy was discussed at length. Mr Ilaycroft pointed out that the Fire Boards now generally adopted the piactice of dividing their insurance among the companies. The division could be safely left t 0 the underwriters. It otherwise could happen that a particular company lost by the policy, without any opportunity to recover anything, for if there were, say, thirty companies doing business in a locality, and the Board’s business were transferred yearly from one t 0 another, the company that hail to shoulder a substantial payment in its year would not get the insurance again for 29 years. The Secretary said he understood those companies whose representatives were members of the Board were barred (from accepting its insurance. Mr Hayeroft doubted if this were so, and the Chairman --.'d then was nothing in the law to that erteet. M r Green said th c Act exempted the members of insurance companies from any bar of the kind. It would be best for the Board to deal with one com pany. which could reinsure with the others represented here. Mr Hayeroft said it was no favour- to the particular agent who had to deal with the policy. Mr Perotti raid they could perhaps insure thus through the State, Office. The Chairman said an agent familiar with the Boaru-% -mmtion would be advisable.

Tt was finally resolved, on the motion of the Chairman and Mr McGin ley, that the whole of the Board’s insurance be placed with one company that company to reinsure a proportion ate part with each of the companies doing business within the Grey mouth area, and the policy to begin on April Ist, 1929. It was also resolved that the National Insurance Company be the distributing company. Accounts totalling £169 6s were pass ed fo r payment, including a vote of £5 for Christmas cheer lor the Brigade members. The Chairman, before the close of the meeting, extended the members of the Board the compliments of the Christmas season-