Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1945. THE SHOWGROUNDS FIRE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 31, 5 January 1945, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1945. THE SHOWGROUNDS FIRE

A Court of Inquiry has been sitting this week to investigate the disastrous fire' which destroyed the Showground buildings and a vast quantity of military equipment and stores. The proceedings have not been open to the Press, so the public must wait for further information on ■ the circumstances attending this serious matter until a statement is made by the responsible Minister. It is eseential that no delay should be lost by the Government in making known the ascertained facts from the inquiry, for the public are seriously concerned over the fire and the vast amount of destruction it caused. Not only has the Manawatu A. and P. Association suffered the severe, loss of important buildings which, though insured, may not be replaced for some considerable time because of_ the imperative need to direct building operations into other but the taxpayer will be required to meet the cost of the goods destroyed, estimated unofficially at the present time at a million pounds, and even this tremendous sum may be conservatively calculated. The goods were stored in buildings incapable of creating a serious fire hazard in themselves. It was therefore the quantity stored and their character that created the hazard and led to the vast destruction.

It was clearly obvious at the conflagration that the fire had occurred in a place where inflammable materials or goods had been placed. The alarming manner in which the flames spread once smoke was seen to burst through the roof —some of' the firemen had to leave a section of the building, where it had been hoped to prevent the flames from spreading, within a few minutes of entering it —-was clear evidence on this point. Oil, paints, and turpentine were some of the materials which fed the flames, and their presence in a great storehouse of military goods required the most careful watch to combat the risk of fire disaster. The public wish to know whether the facilities for fire fighting were adequate, whether the watch kept on the premises was sufficient in strength under all the circumstances, whether the storage of goods was performed in such a manner as to lessen the risk of fire spreading if it occurred, and when the fire did occur the fire-fighting appliances were sufficient if used efficiently to keep the flames in check until the Brigade's arrival, and tbey were so used. The public are entitled to be so informed because they must foot the bill. One important point appears to have been the absence of fire breaks —a most essential precaution. The fire should not be without valuable lessons in other camps where vast quantities of military goods are stored and whose replacement may present serious difficulties.