The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1914. FIRE PREVENTION.

Waipa Post, Volume VII, Issue 330, 14 July 1914, Page 4

The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1914. FIRE PREVENTION.

IF the high pressure water supply, now available, confers,;) greater measure of benefit upon the community in any one respect it is in that it affords to the town every opportunity for fire-fight-ing pin poses. Hitherto town property—the very town itself — has been practically at the mercy of any incipient fire. We, as a community, have hardly realised our helplessness, as occasion has not yet arisen to demonstrate how utterly impossible it would have been for us to combat a fire in a congested area, although it requires no stretch of imagination to realise what devastation fire unchecked could have wrought in almost any portion of thetown. With the water supply available .every opportunity" is offered to check incipient fires, and to stay the spread of any conflagrations. It now remains for us, then, to grasp the opportunity offering, and to organise a body of men whos"e function will be to handle' the equipment of fire prevention/and we are pleased to see that the Town .Board has taken early steps to promote such an organisation. Thanks to the volunteer fire brigade in the first instance, and to the Town Board, necessary fire-fighting appliances are immediately available, and it is hoped that a brigade will be established on Thursday evening next. So far as the old brigade is concerned, the public owes to each and every member, and especially to the promoters, a deep debt of gratitude. This brigade was organised to obtain the best equipment then available, so as to be in readiness to combat any fires. Its efforts mav not. have been thoroughly appreciated, but this was only because of the fact that occasion did not arise for it to demonstrate its value. Though its efforts may have been seriously hampered through the. make shift facilities at its disposal, we are assured that its value as an organisation would have very soon been apparent had its services been called into requisition. The financial support or encouragement, given by the town to that organisation, was very disappointing especially when the purpose of the organisation is considered, but the members, in the face of sharp criticism and extremely poor support, volunteered their services, and were in readiness to do a valuable service to their town. To-day conditions are altered. Modern and necessary equipment is available, and every opportunity offers the establishment of a properly organised fire brigade, and we feel sure that the Town Board, in promoting the matter, will not be disappointed in its hope that a sound organisation will be set up on Thursday next. Now that the town is in a position to stay the spread of fire, the question of fire insurance rates may well be brought forward and steps taken to bring about a reduction in the premium rates. Steps, we think, should be taken to represent the matter to the Insurance Companies with a view to the reduction of the present high rates obtaining. Undoubtedly a reduction may be had for the asking, and it is possibly for the Town Board, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Te Awamutu Retail Traders' Association to take necessary action in the matter. We hope they will.