FIRE ENGINES

Southland Times, Issue 21771, 28 July 1932, Page 6

FIRE ENGINES

observing by-laws OBJECTION TO CUTTING CORNER COMPLAINT TO MAYOR The question whether or fire engines should o serve ra}g _ ceived a complain g wa y ing of an d by the leakage in answer a call causea oy Sou thland News P Buil<fing S s about n ? on fX street and to the fact that the Sine had not gone around the silent policeman when turning into Dee street. Superintendent F. Simpson said he was in charge of the engine and there W Mr ne Mme a r” y You "didn’t turn .the Stolon: Our instructions are to drive with all possible speed, with due regard to safety. t , Mr Miller: It’s not safe for you to cut the comer and there will be a PI Mr Simpson: There will he a serious accident if we try to go round that traffic dome. I may as well tell you that now. . , Mr Miller said the person who complained had also said that there was nearly an accident in Esk street. Mr Simpson: There was never anything near a collision. I was m charge of the engine and there was tons of The chairman (Mr R. N. Todd) : The engine has the right of way and all traffic must get out of the way. Mr Miller: What is the objection m going round the dome? . Mr Simpson: The engine needs a wide swing to turn. To go around that dome we would have to slacken speed very considerably and it would take those heavy machines some time to pick up again. Mr Miller: There is no need to travel fast in the town. Mr Simpson: It is very often a question of seconds in the city. Mr Miller: If someone were killed it would be more, serious than the destruction of a building. ■Mr Simpson: There would probably be lives at stake in the building destroyed. Mr Miller: It is a question of regulations and whether or not the engines are to observe them. Mr Simpson: As far as the car, or rather small lorry, in Esk street was concerned the driver should be prosecuted because he was impeding Us. The by-laws state that all other traffic must pull off the streets, but it is not done. Some drivers even try to race

Continuing, Mr Simpson said he believed the fire brigade cars in Timaru were allowed a municipal privilege and were marked “M.P.” They could park where required and for as long as nec-

essary. It would be a serious precedent to give any vehicles such a privilege, Mr Miller said, but he admitted that fire engines could not comply with the parking regulations. He'asked if there was anything in the motor regulations dealing with the matter. “The regulations state that all traffic must pull off the road and stop,” the secretary (Mr L. S. Graham) said. Mr M. N. Hyndman suggested asking for a ruling from the inspector of fire brigades and moved accordingly. The motion was seconded by the chairman and was carried.

“Irrespective of what he has to say, I am concerned with the safety of the people of the city,” Mr Miller said. The matter will be re-opened at the next meeting of the board.