FIRE WATCHING
PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT EFFECTIVE FROM AUGUST 3 Permanent fire watching in the area between Port Chalmers and Mosgiel is to be established on Monday, August 3. Instructions to this effect have been received from the National Service Department. As a consequence, approximately 650 men will be on duty each night in the area concerned, and it will be necessary for occupiers of buildings to arrange sleeping accommodation and meals for the watchers. The system of fire watching organised in Dunedin is one which allows the greatest economy in the provision of men. In some centres watchers are on duty in each building, but in Dunedin buildings have been grouped in such a way that one fire guard staff may have the premises of several firms entrusted to its care. In some groups night staffs are permanently on duty, and in these cases provision for special watches will not be necessary, but in all other cases it will now be necessary to prepare rosters of the available watchers, and in cases in which extra staff is required to build up the personnel advice to this effect should be sent, to the organiser (Mr H. L. Gibson), Fire Guard Department, Town Hall, where armlets and booklets may also be obtained. To each large building or group of smaller buildings in the vulnerable areas 24 fire watchers have been allotted, and groups of four of these will lake up their duties on successive nights. This means that each separate group will be on duty every sixth night. It is hoped that the numbers of watchers may later be increased, and that, as a consequence, no person will be required to be on duty on more than one night each week. The establishment of permanent fire watching will bring Dunedin into line with Auckland and Wellington, where the scheme has been operating sines January last. Permanent watching will also be established in Christchurch. The Dunedin scheme will absorb about 3750 watchers, whereas in Wellington some 14.000 and in Auckland 16.000 watchers are engaged.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19420717.2.24
Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 24970, 17 July 1942, Page 2
Word Count
340FIRE WATCHING Otago Daily Times, Issue 24970, 17 July 1942, Page 2
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