THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1924. FIRE RISKS AND WATER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18895, 18 December 1924, Page 10

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1924. FIRE RISKS AND WATER.

When the superiutendent of the Auckland Fire Brigade, commenting on the recent fire in Waitemata Street, Ponsonby, declared publicly that an insufficient supply of water had hampered the efforts to subduo the flames, most people concluded that he was performing a public duty. An executive officer, occupying a position of high responsibility, he spoke of a subject coming well within his province. Yet to judge from the tone of yesterday's discussion by the Fire Board, it might be thought Mr. Wilson had been guilty of a grave indiscretion. It may not be more than a coincidence that the member of the Fire Board who objected most to what the superintendent had said was also a member of the Auckland City Council. Yet, considering that Mr. Wilson's criticism of the water pressure available on the night of the fire was speedily and officially resented by the civic authorities, there is probably more than coincidence in it. Apparently had the usual course been followed, Mr. Wilso:a would have reported to the Fire Board, which would in turn havo referred the question on to the City Council, which would have asked the waterworks engineer to report on the position. What is not explained is how much the publio would havo been told about the position. Whether the superintendent's action in speaking as and when he did was irregular or not, at least he let the public know that he was uneasy about the facilities given the brigade to fight fires. This is something which the people should know., There is a time and place to observe all the niceties of regular procedure. There are also occasions when a disregard of them is pardonable and indeed commendable. Whatever the Fire Board or the City Council may think, there will be a general inclination in the public to believe that the superintendent recognised one of these occasions and acted accordingly.

However 'full it was of implications that something irregular had been done, the discussion did little to alleviate the feeling that all is not well with the water supply f rom the fire-lighting point of view. The waterworks department has laid itself open to criticiam on other counts. Despite the extensive works undertaken in the catchment area, delay in completing the transmission mains has led to restrictions being placed on the use of water again this summer. Now it has become evident that even with an ample supply coming from the hills, with the reservoirs full to capacity j day and night, a pressure adequate to deal with a serious lire would not necessarily be available. If this is not so, why should the question of new mains be under consideration, as was revealed at the Fire Board meeting? Tho point is one vitally affecting the people, one about which they should not be kept in ignorance. Year after year the chief inspector of lire brigades, in his reports to Parliament, has emphasised the high rate of fire loss in New Zealand. Auckland 'a? 3 always contributed its share, sometimes more than its due proportion. The configuration of the city, t] e undoubted building congestion .a many areas, and the large numbers of wooden structures all help to make Auckland a placo of fairly heavy fire risk. The best precautions to take are against outbreaks occurring. That has been stated time and again by the responsible officials. But when all possible care is taken fires will occur sometimes. It is essential, then, that the facilities for fighting the flames should be of the highest standard. A plentiful water supply and an adequate pressure are absolute indispensables. The most zealous and efficient fire brigade in the world can do nothing without ammunition drawn from the city water mains.

Tho chairman of the Fire Board' said there was little doubt the water supply was short in some areas. He did not indicate how many such places there were, or where they were located. Many people in widely-separated parts of Auckland, who judge by the pressure of their domestic supply, often wonder uneasily how they would fare if a fire occurred. This may help them to be more careful, which in itself is a good thing; but if their fears are justified, they are not being given that measure of protection to which j they are entitled in the event of a I lire breaking out despite all precau- j tions. This applies not only to the city but to some of the suburbs governed by independent local authorities. In fact the questionable condition of water mains is most pronounced in some of them. It has to be reckoned also that there are in the heart of the city large blocks of business buildings deserted at night, A fire might gain a very serious hold before being detected, and unless the water supply to fight it was adequate, the loss to result might reach enormous proportions. Some of these buildings are constructed in such a fashion that once alight the prospects of saving them are small. Without a water supply capable of answering the calls made upon it, the chance would be nil. An official of the fire brigade re-1 cently commentec. very pointedly on the constructional defects of many Auckland buildings. He was not rebuked for making a public statement instead of reporting to the Fire Board; or if he was, nothhg was said about it. That, however, is by the way. It need not be concluded that all the water mains are inadequate, or that in every part of the city the pressure is insufficient. It is obvious that this is so of some places, and the anxiety shown to prove that Mr. Wilson did something

wrong in speaking about it does not still the suspicion that it was tune somebody spoke out on the subject. Let lihn Fire Board hurry on its inquiry about the water mains, and with the co-operation of the City Council rectify all that needs rectification. If it doea this, it will not have time to worry about the exact manner in which the publio was told something it very obviously had a right to know.