FOR FIRE PROTECTION

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11504, 28 September 1915, Page 2

FOR FIRE PROTECTION

PUBLIC MEETING AT FENDALTGN. VOLUNTEER POLICE CORPS FORMED. ! A pno' e mo.MUig waa held .it, th« I Chd-' Road .Schoolroom. Kendal ton, | his;, evening. to founder ft proposal to 'pro. id- tin* disirif*r with some moans i | pro:ret'on against tire. There have roo'.Miiiv '-'en several lire* in the disI'wii'i. wliii-h is outside the city firo | ;;t'i'a, and tho lat«'sl outbreak, I«-st j wook. vo>u"t; ■(l' in tho loss of two lives, ! The attendance was a largo one, and ! .Mr 0. '!'• .}. Alpers ua - voted to the | chair. i 'I in,* chairman moved a resolution exi pro-sing the sympathy oi' the residents <»t" Fendalton ivith tho family of the ! hto 31 rs M. A. Cookson. and with Mr J.F. Ktvemau, who lost his htt!o daughter ! in il'« recent. tire in Idris Road. | '! !im motion was carried in silence. | those present standing. ! COURSES OPEN TO THE ItESf- ! DENTS. I Dealing with tho business before the i meeting, the chairman .suited that there i v.-ore s,ud to ho so-. oral courses open ;In the residents. Thev could join Foilj <l:)lion or portion oi' fendalton to the ! etfv jis a part of Creator Christ church. f ii'! thus pain the services of the City Firo Mrigad* and other municipal amej niT-H'-s. .W;am. they could torm a. ! separate borough. or a town board, if a borough auto thought to be too am bilious. Again, they mi.crht take steps to sot up a special tire district, but ■ that would depend on a rather expensive poll. Another proposal was that certain parts oi" Wainiairi County, notably Papanui, Riccartou and Fendalton, should combine in the establishment of a lire brigade, tho fire brigade plant to he .stationed at ]'enda 11 on• That p rope sa l would undoubtedly bo popular m Fendalton. bnt. ho could not rouoh for Reenrton and Papaiiui. He moved -- " That this meeting deems it urgently to take some stops to provu!:' tho district with tiro protection." BRIGADES IX DIFFERENT ( ENTRES. Mr S. A. .Staples, chairman of tho V.iumairi County Council, suggested Ibo establishment of volunteer fire bri'ja<ifs iii the various thickly-populated ' oil', tvs in tho district; each brigade being equipped with a chemical engine, and'"hook and ladder appliances. A ino tor i-homica! engine. r.; th hook and 1 oqnipnK.ru. could be purchased ior It had been -aid by tho .Mayor <»f Chnstchnrch '.hat had Fendalton had fire protection last week's 'i'atalitv in Jclns )*oad coiiltl not hav© happened. !>uf. the speaker s mother was burned to death in the city, pmviii;.'; that even with tiro protection somn cloai iif, could not bo a voided. An ex-]:.-ndittire of. say. £4OO in each small (•'-■nt-ro of population would equip 4 brigade. Fendalton wa.s well -ct'Ppiled with wator, and an engine would bo especially useful in Fendalton. A small loan, to be repaid by a rate on the ratopavers oi. the district, would be tho best way of raising the money, 110 seconded tho chairman's motion. FIRE BOARD'S POLICY CRITICISM). A resident spoke strongly against tho poliov of the Fire Board in refusing to attend tires in Fendalton- He suggested that the Christchurch Firo Board should undertake tho charge of a special engine, and bring it to r enr'a!ton whenever there v.as a. fire, handing it over to tho ms-inbers of a volunteer lire brifsdc on reaching tho district. Another resident defended the Cicy Firo Beard', which, he said, had no right to operate outside its owiv district. There woro frequently difh cullies in gel ting a guarantee to enable tho board's plant to bo taken out-sico the board's district. FORMATION OF VOLUNTEER BR IGADB URGED. Mr L. Birks said that questions of wavs and moans were best relegated' to a sub-committee. What was of importance. was that whatever was done was got under way spcoa'dy. He had had charge of a, tire bnga.de at Isotonic-, and it, bait saved every building and every life threatened by fire m the period of live vears- he was there. A section 12ft by 20ft would bo big enough tor a shed. A shed would cost not more than £250, a fire-engine could be got for £4OO, ladders and so forth could be got. for £bo to £BO, hose for .£4O. jand £3O would provide a firebell. Maintenance would cost about £l2O a year. A watchman could be engaged'to keep a watch at night from a tower in which ho would sloop, tor say £SO a year- His duty would be to receive telephone messages, .locate fires, and ring the firebeU. He suggested that a hand-cart, buckets, hurricane lanterns and axes might be ordered at once, at an immediate expenditure of not more than 0, and a, volunteer brigade coulci' bo formed at pnee. Ho would be pleased to give anv help be could. slr R. Arlow urged that some arraii""cniciti should bo made to get the benefit of the city fire protection plant. If the district became part of the citv it was true that rates would go up/ but the residents woidd get benefits for their money. One of the objections to a volunteer fire brigade was that Fendalton residents epent their da-vs in the city. The chairman's motion was put and carried unanimously. CREATE 11 CHRISTCHURCH PROPOSAL. Tho chairman: suggested tha.t the opinion of the meeting .should be definitely ascertained the respective proposals for joining (rrcs-ter Cbri&tchurch and sotting " up a separate borough or town board. He suggested that recrimitifttion« against the I'lW Board for pot attending suburban fires ! outsid'e it« district were a waste _ of j time. Tho district must look after itself in Iho matter of fire protection. ] To test tho feeling of the meeting he would move pro forma--'' That this meeting affirms the desirability of joining Fendalton to the city as a. part of Greater Christchurch." Mr Allow r-econded the motion. Mr Birks protested that the meeting had not sufficient information rethe effect of city rating on Fendalton properties. Mr Staples said that even if rendat-i-„m u„>.«!' tho oitv it would not necet?-

foil JOUICO Clio cn t > ii; nyui-.i iiyv u^ cv .sarilv get connection with the City Council's high-pressure water supply or with the 'Drainage Board's sewage svjstem- " The motion was lost on the voices. •Tho chairman moved-—" That the meeting is in favour of a borough or town board for Fendalton, and tliis was also negatived on tho -voicesFIRE BOARP GUARANTEES. Mr F. Neave suggested that it might be possible for the district as a whole to give the Fir© Board a, collective guarantee to cover attendance, at all fires in Fendalton district. Mt Hopkins (member of the Fire Board) said the position now tvs« that. tliT-. hoard, would accept no private guarantees whatever. united guarantee, put through tho Gounty Council, might receive consideration. Mr Staples moved' that a committee should be «et up to consider the matter of liro protection in the district, to report to another public meeting icsidij fourteen days. Mr S. Bullock .seconded tbc motion. A resident said it must, be rcmembered that it took .-.even to nino minutes to w>i a ftro engine from tho city to Fendalton. He favoured a Inciil lire bri'.rade. Mr Huiloek paid » local volunteer '"•> miirht lake loiver to ri ;ct

to (lie engui'* ihan tlv pernir.iieut brigade 'aciu'm.J i-ai-e to come Ironi touu. SU PERi NTKN I) F- NT WAIIN KR ,EXPLALNS BOAIUVS POSITION. Superintcnelcnt Warnei' church Fire Brigade) said that the Act under which the Fire Hoarels were const rlu tod allowed them to increase their (area, and if Feiulalton were prepared { to contribute, the (.hnsie-huicli Boanl I had power to undertake lire pvotecj t.ion in the <li.sta*ict,. 'I lie (roveninicnt. the fire insurance eompanie.,, ;u,.i the ratopavers we>uld contribute to lhe ewst. * The contnhut.iou might, be taken either nut- of the Fendalton rating's general rate, or a special rate might ho struck. The chairman suggested that even if tho dis-triet. joined the city lire area, it would be useful to establish u corps of lire police, to give first aid ;it a lire and to control crowds at fires. Superintendent Warner said the brigadc. would welcome assistance oi that kind. Mr Staples'* motion was put anel | was carried unanimously. ' ,Mr Birks again urged that ladders, hurricane lanterns, buckets, rope and hooks should ho purchased at once. After further discussion a committee consisting of Messrs S. A. Staples, | S. Bullock, O. T. J. Alpers, L. Birks. D. Crosier, H. 0. I). Aleares and F. "Parsouson was Rot, up to consider ways anel means of obtaining lire protection. VOLUNTEER FIRE POLICE CORPS ESTABLISHED. Mr Birks moved that a Volunteer Firo Police Corps should be established in Fendalton. Mr Bnrneit seconded the motion. j Mr H. O. D. Mearcs suggested that in tho meantime a guarantee might be offered to the Firo Board for tiro protection. Mr Hopkins .said the board could not consieler the matter until it met on October 0. The chairman suggested that tho committee already sot up should Mart on tho board as a, deputation and ascertain the position Mr C. W. Hervey .suggested that temporary protection could bo obtained from the St Albans Brigade. Mr Bullock moved that the committee should bo authorised to take any immediate steps necessary to secure the fire protection of the district, while waiting for tho comraitteo's report. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Montoith suggested that tho Fendalton platoon of tho Citizens' Defence Corps might giro its .services as fire police. Mr Parsonson said he felt, sure that suggestion would be accepted. Buckets and other appliances were wanted. Mr Birks's motion was put, and carried unanimously, and Mr Birks was eleoted convenor of a meeting to be held irnmeeliatcly after the public meeting, to discuss practical details in connection with the firo police corps. A vote of thanks to the ohairman concluded tho proceedings. A collection wa-s taken up in the room to provide equipment *for tho Fire, Police Corps and va s liberally contributed to.