FALSE FIRE ALARMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21578, 24 August 1933, Page 10

FALSE FIRE ALARMS

TWELVE IN FAST MONTH action by board CAMPAIGN AGAINST OFFENDERS Measures to further the campaign against malicious false alarms of fire were decided upon at a meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board yesterday, when a report was received from the superintendent, Mr. W. L. Wilson, stating the brigades had received 12 malicious false alarms in the month ended on August 16. Tho number received in the corresponding month last year was three. The chairman, Mr. .T. J. Kingston, said tho board was empowered to offer rewards for information leading to tho conviction of offenders. Mr. R. J. Mills: If wo got a conviction the board receives tho fine. Cotdd wo put a notice over the alarms stating tho penalty for an offence? Mr. Kingston: They would need to bo in permanent material such as enamel, and that would bo costly. Mr. Mills: It is the youths who do it. Mr. Kingston: I think if wo offered a reward, that would bo a deterrent. Mr. C. H. Wyatt suggest/d headmasters of schools should bo asked to address tho children and educate .them to tho significance underlying tho giving of alarms. Mr. Kingston: I do not think it is tho children. It is tho hoodlum class. Mr. Wilson said ho had already mado a suggestion to the inspector of fire brigades that an effort should be made to have an article dealing with the matter published in tho school journal. Mr. Kingston said an advertisement could be inserted in tho press warning tho public against giving malicious alarms. Ho thought also they could offer a reward, and ask tho magisstratos to inflict a severe penalty in the case of an offence. A motion on the lines of the chairman's suggestion was carried.