UNDER STATE CONTROL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24607, 15 May 1941, Page 8

UNDER STATE CONTROL

BRITAIN’S FIRE BRIGADES GROUPED IN REGIONS (Rec. 8 p.m.) RUGBY, May 13. The whole of Britain’s fire brigade resources is now in the hands of 1400 authorities, and England and Wales alone are to be brought under State control, the Minister of Home Security, Mr Herbert Morrison, announced in the House of Commons. This drastic plan is for combating air raid effects. The brigades, said Mr Morrison, will be grouped and directed in regions, and the smallest units in the organisation will have sub-regions comprising up to 30 local areas. Mobile units for reinforcing and other special duties will be created. Greater flexibility and speed and better direction and leadership are expected under the scheme than are now possible with a fire-fighting army divided into many small forces of varying size. Most of the equipment is already standardised, and 90 per cent, of the war equipment was supplied by the Horae Office. Any shortage of manpower will be met by the National Service Act of last April. The existing part-time volunteer or auxiliary fire service will become part of the new national organisation. Mr William Mabane, Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security, will supervise the creation of the administration of the new organisation. Mr Morrison added that it was no reflection on local'authorities that the task had grown beyond the control of their resources.