THE CUSTOMS STREET FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24050, 22 August 1941, Page 4

THE CUSTOMS STREET FIRE

Sir. —The statement made by the chairman of the Fire Board is unconvincing. The fact is that a major disaster has (occurred in which many lives were placed in jeopardy, and what concerns the public is not the time-table for that tragic morning, but the chance of a similar occurrence in the future. The position should be faced squarely that the city's facilities for dealing with large-scale conflagrations appear to be hopelessly inadequate. Even a ''switchboard" fire may be important if it occurs in an old building; in the present instance that factor made all the difference. One shudders to think what would happen under existing conditions were the city subjected to large-scale enemy incendiary bomb or shelling attack. It may well be that this disaster will lead to'a general stocktaking of the protection at present available to citizens and their property, and perhaps even to an examination of the constitution and policy of the Fire Board itself. The letter of thanks to the volunteer life-savers which you published is full of significance and I hope its underlying import will not be lost on us. The efforts of the brigade were doubtless praiseworthy, but the public must see to it that these men have the proper equipment, including, for instance, radio-telephones, for instantaneous communication to save precious moments, so that human life and property will not again needlessly be placed in peril. The Hkrald has done a notable public service in drawing attention to some of the lessons of this tragic occurrence and. incidentally, revealing so many instances of official futility. Phoenix. Sir, —I desire first to pay a tribute to the undoubted ability of Superintcndent Wilson and the efficiency of the men of the Auckland fire brigade. Their excellent services in the past have justly merited appreciation of their skilled efforts in the majority of our fires. But no one should know better than the chairman - of the Fire Board, Mr. .T. J. Kingston, that the brigade ha.fi in the past and is still - lacking necessary -equipment.

The Fire JBoard has not for a long time —and pre-war—kept pace, in accordance with present-day necessity, with the continuous rapid growth of Auckland, either in insisting oti facilities for safety of lives or in providing adequate essential and additional reserve equipment. Reserve mechanised extension ladder trucks .sufficient to cope with any emergency should have existed for years past. It is all very well to say the only extension ladder was .away for overhaul. Just fancy—no new purchase of such for 20 years and consequently no reserve. Had two or three of these ladders been available —110thwithstanding their cost —streams of water could more accurately have been directed into the centre of the outbreak. No one would blame Superintendent Wilson for not risking the lives of his men to attain that purpose in view of lack of equipment. I do not. suggest that the responsibility should all attach to all present board members, for it has been suggested that one new extension ladder truck was ordered 18 months ago, but is still undelivered. This, if correct, shows that someone was awake then —but why not before? Mr. Allum in his statement disclosed the City Council's weakness in failure to press for prompt action, for he alleged the Standards Institute had not facilitated matters. All these bodies apparently are slow in action. Mr. Kingston should know that, had adequate life-saving equipment and escapes been available, this would have saved anxiety, suffering, and probably considerable time, and thus, may be. also effected a fair saving of national wealth. These are serious times calling for action. An inquiry before a magistrate is necessary, and that promptly. John Citizen.