USE OF SIRENS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 8

USE OF SIRENS

RESTRICTION SOUGHT TRAFFIC OFFICERS’ SOURCE ()F TROUBLE ’ I that lhe indiscriminate blowing of sirens in borough areas by traffic inspectors had been responsible for brigadesmen being brought to the station only to find that there was no call to answer, was revealed at. the annual conference of the United Fir-? Brigades’ Association of New Zealand yesterday. The conference unanimously decided to bring the matter under the notice of the Transport Department. I he matter was raised when a remit dealing with the use of fire sirens was introduced by the Gore brigade. Foreman 1.. O. Wallace (Gore) said fhat traffic inspectors were the cause of the trouble. Firemen heard the siren and dressed and went Io the station to find that they had been I ho£<ed. It was for this reason that i •'.is brigade wished the use of sirens I rest ricted. Deputy-Superintendent R. Henderson i Hastings) said that, several of I his men had been called to the station through traffic inspectors’ sirens. Secretary S. Hague (Hamilton) said his brigade bad had trouble through a siren erected by an industrial firm which used it many times a day The brigade objected Io a siren being sounded al any hour of the day. The Silverstream delegate said that his brigade exoerienced the same 'trokuble. A traffic inspector bad been responsible for the calling out of the whole brigade just recently. This inspector was very fond of using his siren. The Gisborne oelegate said Iha i his brigade had been called out on three occasions during the year by traffic inspectors' sirens The local body delegates were endeavouring Io have sirens filled to their motor-cycles. The association "hould object to the use of sirens in I he borough and being made fools of al any hour o'" the day or night. The fire brigades were the first people to use sirens. It was pointed out that the use of sirens by traffic inspectors was permitted under the motor regulations. It would bo a difficult matter to get over the trouble. ; The Geraldine celt gate said that his brigade had come to an arrangement . with the inspector to avoid any i trouble. Mr. J. W. Heenan Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs. 1 said that he was personally surprised ! to learn that siren" were allowed to I be used by inspectors. He thought •that fire brigades had the exclusive use of sirens. ; A show of hands revealed that a large number of brigades had been called out by traffic inspectors’ sirens. It was unanimously decided to bring the matter under the notice of the Transport. Department. Tesla Studios have been appointed official photographer to Fire Brigade Conference and Demonstrations.*