FIRE-WATCHING MUST CONTINUE

Southland Times, Issue 24758, 1 June 1942, Page 4

FIRE-WATCHING MUST CONTINUE

MR SEMPLE EMPHATIC (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 30. “Because the Japanese are increasing the strength of their drive against China some owners and occupiers of business buildings in New Zealand think the national insurance system of fire-watching should be relaxed, said the Hon. R. Semple today. I can say emphatically on behalf of the Government that the present precautions must be maintained until there is good reason , for any change.” i The Minister said it would be foolisn to deduce from the present operations in China that the Japanese had swerved away from their southward move. They were always scheming to stage surI prises. They would not give notice of ■motion of their intention to raid New i Now that the first difficulties in the ! establishment of fire-watching services i had been overcome, the stage had been reached when attention would be given ito instructional activities and the proi vision of more fire-fighting equipment. ; In the working of the scheme the ex- ; tent and degree of fire-watching _was I proportionate to the probable risk, thus i Wanganui was not subject to the same kind of fire-watching as the central 'areas of Auckland and Wellington, but the whole policy would remain on the principle of safety first Mr Semple pointed out that ViceAdmiral Robert L. Ghormley had 'warned us that we were more likely Ito suffer tip-and-run raids unless the Japanese took some islands to the eastward. Who in this country would take 'the responsibility for saying- that the I fire-watching service could be put to bed in the face of such a warning from i a high authority? Mr Semple reiterated • that fire-watching must continue with j increasing efficiency. 1 — .