FIRE PREVENTION AT SUMNER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20057, 21 September 1920, Page 3

FIRE PREVENTION AT SUMNER.

Last night the Sumner Borough Council ' received a, deputation from the Sumner Volunteer Fire Brigade. Superintendent <t. Carter handed iin a letter from the whole brigade stating that the present plant was quite inadequate. The brigade wished to .continue the good relations at present exist'ing between the .members and the council, but tho present system was out of date pud reorganisation was an. urgent necessity. Superintendent Carter said that an estimate for hose required to meet the demands of residents on the four main streets of the borough, together with four hydrants, (live branches and five hose boxes, was £257 8s Id. • Another £75 would provide them l with an up-to-date fire-fighting motor-driven vehicle to carry ten men to any part of! the borough. Ho strongly recommended the council to, give up the idea of purchasing new hose ,at 8s 2d a foot ami to corrt eider a scheme for the purchase of the motor. He quoted from a report of the Government inspector and also from one by Superintendent 'Warner, both of whom strongly recommended tho Ford '‘chassis. The whole, outfit, ladders complete, would! be £369. _ Of this amount he would guarantee to raise £IOO by public subscription. • The present volunteer brigade had been pulling the hand reel for twenty-six years. It was impossible to get the best results from men after dragging tho reel, say, up a' hill. He had, several splendid offers or Kvolunteera whov could i guarantee to do the driving. Tho borough was worth a good equipment; the Iron so a wore well worth it. The plant could be landed in nine.'weeks and the only expense would ba the benzine. Superintendent Carter also went into the question of uniforms. Some of these, he , said, were twenty-six years old. They wert, hardly good enough to attend a fire in. Tile men could perhaps manage' for tliis year, but they certainly required an undress uniform. ■ ' • . Last year the council grant amounted to £lB. The men made up the expenses to £25 themselves. This was not right. They were about this -only brigade that paid for their own "honours,” and he asked the to make the grant £25. , Ho said the brigade had done itself credit under very unfavourable circumstances in the past, hut it could not work ‘ without proper tools. The motor save valuable time and carry the men to any part of .the borough. He urged the council to act promptly. Tho council, which appeared vary sympathetic, promised to deal with tho matter at an early date.