FIRE BOARD MEETING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 305, 23 November 1945, Page 8

FIRE BOARD MEETING

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT.

A number of men had returned to the permanent' staff of the Fire Brigade, stated the superintendent (Mr N. G. Buick), in his report presented at the quarterly meeting of the Palmerston North Fire Board, and the staff was now two below normal. There were thrSe officers, 11 firemen, and one watchroom attendant. Of the auxiliary staff, there were five resident and 12 non-resident Alarms throughout the city had been overhauled and about 85 fire-plugs cleaned out. Mr Buick said that some of these were rather difficult to find and recommended that the City Council be approached in this matter. There had been 15 calls during the past twomonthly period, of which eight were property fires, and the total tire damage amounted to £6B, of which £l4 was uninsured. There had been three false alarms and of these two were malicious. The new fire-engine was expected early next month and work had been done on preparing equipment for it. The report was received and the recommendations approved, and the chairman commended Mr Buick upon his good work in preparing it. Plans for considerable building and alteration projects at the fire station were inspected by the board and it was decided to take the first steps in the raising of a loan to cover the cost. Accommodation was urgently needed for married members -of the staff, said the superintendent. Six flats to be built .in two buildings ’of reinforced concrete at a total cost of £9600, and the construction of a storey-and-a-lialf house for the superintendent at a total cost, including the section, of about £3500, were the main projects considered. Plans were also inspected* for converting the ground floor of the present superintendent’s flat into an engine-house and the upper floor into a two-bed-room flat.

The Inspector of Fire Brigades (Mr R. Girling Butcher), who was present, recommended that the plans be undertaken as. soon as possible.