FIRE INQUIRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24106, 27 October 1941, Page 9

FIRE INQUIRY

JOHN BURNS' PREMISES

SCOPE OF MR. HUNT'S TASK WIDE ORDER OF REFERENCE (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Saturday The appointment of Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., as the commission of inquiry to investigate various matters connected with the fire which recently destroyed the premises of John Burns and Company, Limited, at Auckland, was confirmed to-day. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, stated that, with the concurrence of the Minister of Justice, the Hon. H. G. It. Mason, Mr. Hunt would be available to undertake the investigation almost immediately. The commission is asked to report aa to the following matters:— (1) The cause and origin of the fire; (2) the effectiveness of action taken by the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Brigade to combat the fire; (3) the efficiency and adequacy of the existing plant and equipment of the brigade for lire-fighting purposes generally; (4) the efficiency or otherwise of the organisation and the training of the brigade; (5) the adequacy of the water supply available in the Auckland metropolitan fire district for fire-fighting purposes; <b) the desirability or otherwise of closer supervision and control being exercised over the location of electrical equipment and the installation thereof in buildings: (7) the adequacy of the existing building by-laws in operation in the Auckland metropolitan fire district in regard to fireproofing of lift wells and other vertical openings. (8) The protection of exposures of buildings from fire and related problems; (9) the desirability or otherwise of applying to existing buildings the present by-laws or any by-laws subsequently made providing for adequate means of egress from buildings in the case of fire; (10") the desirability or otherwise of occupiers of business premises instructing their staffs in the elementary principles of fire protection and the holding of fire-fighting or fire escape drills; (11) the application of any_ defects in the general efficiency, equipment, organisation or system of training of the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Brigade to fire service in New Zealand generally, in so far as it shall lie apparent to the commission; (12) any other matters which the commission is of opinion should properly he the subject of inquiry in relation to the fire or public criticism arising from the fire.