The Manawatu Daily Times Fire Prevention

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 67, 21 March 1935, Page 6

The Manawatu Daily Times Fire Prevention

The importance of Fire Prevention AVeek, which is being held throughout the Dominion this week, as an educative force in community life is now generally recognised and for that reason it is particularly gratifying to know that in future this instruction will be held annually. This method of bringing before the public generally, and the children in particular, the need for precautionary measures as a means of lowering the Dominion’s heavy fire losses, was first employed in 1931, but was not used again until last year. It is not possible to say just how far the instruction given has been responsible for the decline in fire losses that has taken place in the last few years, but it is obvious, from the marked decrease in the number of fires occurring, that greater care is being taken. The loss suffered in the Dominion through lire for the year ended March 31, 1934, was £044,781, compared with £867,714 for the previous year and an average of £1,332,032 for the five years from 1927 to 1931. It will thus be seen that fire waste has been markedly decreased in the last two years. In fact; so far as it is possible to reach a definite conclusion, the per capita loss last year(B/4) is probably the lowest point touched in the past 30 years. As was pointed out in the most recent report on the subject presented Lo Parliament by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the improvement in fire-fighting methods and in the equipment and' efficiency of brigades has undoubtedly contributed to this satisfactory state of affairs. But this, as is explained, is a gradual process, and could not be held wholly responsible for the sudden drop in losses that has occurred in the last two years. It is clear that the chief cause of the reduction can be found in the more enlightened public attitude toward fire risk, and the commendable determination to make every possible effort to reduce the risk still further. The experience of many countries over a period of years has shown that carelessness is the greatest factor in causing fires, and it is in instilling a proper sense of responsibility into young and receptive minds that Fire Prevention Week undoubtedly has its greatest value. Parents and other adults, however, are not free from blame in the matter of fires due to carelessness. It is shown, for instance, that every year there is a large proportion of outbreaks caused by matches or other inflammable agents in the house being accessible to children, or by the unguarded burning of rubbish, or similar acts of thoughtlessness. It has to be realised that insurance can provide, at the best, only a partial guarantee against personal loss through fire. As has been shown, however, the public generally is taking greater care, and there is reason to hope that, with instruction in fire prevention installed as a regular feature of the school year, and with the fact relating to fire risks being brought coincidently before all classes of the community, New Zealand will enjoy a still further decrease in the consecpicnces of negligence or folly.