FIRE WASTE

Otago Witness, Issue 4039, 11 August 1931, Page 20

FIRE WASTE

THE DOMINION’S LOSSES

A PREVENTION “DRIVE.” WELLINGTON, August 8. The big waste by fire in New Zealand has caused the authorities to adopt fresh methods to lessen it. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr P. A. de la Perlelle) stated to-day that the figures, show- ; ing the Dominion's fire waste, placed be- . fore him by the Government inspector of fire brigades (Mr R. Girling-Butchers), made it plain that some drastic measures were necessary It was proposed in the future to increase the number of tire inquiries and to track down and consider the causes. “The fire losses in New Zealand,” Mr de la Perrelle said, “ are remarkable, and something wlil have to be done to check them. According to reports furnished to me the fire losses actually paid by the insurance companies during the five years 1926-1930 amounted to £5.900.873. To this figure must be added the uninsured fire loss which is conservatively estimated at 124 per cent, of the insured loss. The total fire waste for the Dominion for the five years, therefore, reaches the staggering total of £6,648,482, or an average yearly expenditure of £1,350,000. The loss figures for 1930 are slightly lower than this average, but the information received by the inspector of fire brigades for the first six months of this year indicates that apart altogether from the enormous fire loss due to the earthquake in ( Hawke's Bay, the loss for the present I year will be considerably higher. “ The Government is greatly concerned at the persistence of this high fire loss figure, which amounts to 18s per head of population and. as far as can be ascertained. has the -unenviable distinction of being the highest amount per head of any country where accurate statistics are kept. It must lie recognised that fire loss, even though covered by insurance, is a national loss and absorbs capital which is badly needed to-day for both public and private purposes, and at the present time of financial stringency when national economy is so essential, it is more than ordinarily important that every effort should be made to reduce the national waste on fires. “In 1929 a committee consisting of representatives of Government departments and insurance companies was set up to consider the fire waste problem. This committee brought down an excellent report, but the remedial measures suggested involved a considerable expenditure, and nothing further has been done owing to the difficulty in raising the necessary finance. Proposals involving a greatly reduced expenditure have now been prepared by my department. These provide for the co-operation of the Police, Justice, and State Fire Departments, with the inspector of fire brigades and the insurance companies. Arrangements have been made that the cost of the work will be divided between the insurance companies and the departments mentioned, and in this connection I desire to thank the Council of Fire Underwriters for the assistance both financial and otherwise that they have arranged to provide, “ It is proposed to inaugurate a fire prevention “ drive ” throughout the country, and as the first step in the programme it has been decided to increase greatly the number of coronial inquiries held into fires. The inspector of fire brigades, acting under the powers of the Fire Brigades Act, will obtain from every fire board superintendent an immediate report on any fire where there are suspicious circumstances indicating incendiarism. I am also appealing to other local authorities controlling fire brigades,

requesting them to eo-o perate with the department in this matter and to arrange for their fire superintendents to make similar reports. Coroners’ inquiries will also be held into any fires where the circumstances indicate that information will be obtained which will be of value in connection with the prevention or suppression of fires.

“ The Police Department normally makes inquiries into every fire, and the police will be requested to make more detailed investigations into all suspicious fires, whether occurring in fire brigade districts or in non-protected areas. The police reports will be considered jointly by the commissioner of police, the inspector of fire brigades, and the general manager, State Fire Department (representing the insurance interests). Where it is considered that the circumstances warrant this action, the ease will be submitted to the Justice Department with a request that the coroner consider the holding of an inquiry under the Coroners Act. Inquiries will be conducted entirely by the Police Department, and the insurance companies have agreed to assist in every possible way. In orde r to reduce expenditure they will arrange for any 7 employees required to give evidence to do this without cost to the department.

“ Expert investigation shows that the cause of practically all fires can be divided into three main groups —incendiarism, carelessness, and accident. The knowledge that coronial inquiries will be held int<\ all suspicious fires should ac 't as a very definite check on incendiarism. The second fire cause, that of carelessness, is responsible for by fa r the greater proportion of the total fire loss, and is at the same time the most difficult factor to overcome. While civic and public activity can help in the elimination of fire risks, in the main it is ‘John Citizen’ and his family —who cause these fires —who can prevent them, and I appeal to the general public to give this matter most careful consideration. It is most desirable that something in the nature of a national conscience on the question should be created so that a man who has a fire from other than purely accidental causes should be regarded as having failed in good citizenship. “ Complaints are made on every hand about the Government’s excessive taxa- . tion; here in the Dominion fire waste we have a taxation of over a million pounds a year mostly imposed by the citizens on themselves. It is most necessary to bring home to the public, first, that the fire loss is mainly due to carelessness; ■secondly, that even though loss is insured it is nevertheless loss; and. thirdly, that any reduction in fire loss due to greater public care or fire prevention activity is not merely a gain to the insurance companies, but to the seneral public. Through the State Fire Office the Government has a great measure of control over the insurance position, and can ensure that any reduction in fire loss is passed on to the public through reduction in insurance rates.

“I.would ask for the co-operation of all local authorities, fire brigades. 7 chambers of commerce, and other business organisations, as much of the necessary work can only be done by community action. Very 7 little consideration will show that fire prevention activity, particularly 7 at the present time, is good business, and, experience in other countries lias shown that co-operation between local authorities and business organisations has been a very important factor in reducing fire loss. It is generally recognised that on the fire protection side of the problem the New Zealand fire brigades, which are largely volunteer organisations, are doing very excellent work. Fire brigade officers can give very valuable assistance with respect to fire prevention since, from their experience of local conditions, they are in an unequalled position to advise regarding the fire risks existing, and as to what measures should be taken in each case to reduce the fire hazard. 1 am. therefore, requesting the United Fire Brigades’ Association, which is their official organisation, to help in this fire prevention movement, and from my 7 personal knowledge of the leaders of the association I am certain they 7 will do so whole-heartedly/''