H.—6a

4

There is a well-established remedy in the automatic or " auto-detector " system of fire-alarms in direct communication with the fire-stations, of which there arc some sixty installations now in New Zealand; but a great many more are required. Unfortunately, fire brigade authorities have no jurisdiction in this matter ; and, for the following reasons — first, protection of life ; second, elimination of the " late call " condition which very often causes extensive loss to property other than thai in which the fire originates ; third, as an appreciable step towards a reduction of the excessive lire waste in the Dominion — 1 would respectfully suggest that the Government might well, in the common interest, consider the advisability of introducing legislation making it compulsory to install"' auto-detectors in certain classes of buildings. For some time past there has been a movement in Great Britain with the object of inducing the Government to make compulsory the installation of automatic alarms, and in Sydney " new building regulations render compulsory the installation of automatic fire-detectors." The reliability of auto-detector installations generally is beyond doubt. " Experience has proved that, including the risk of late calls in the early days of the auto-detector industry, 97 per cent, of auto-detector calls to actual outbreaks have resulted in fires being extinguished before more than merely nominal damage was done. The other 3 per cent, is accounted for by the fact that although auto-detectors gave the calls in good time there were hitches in answering to the warnings, bitches which were not in any way due to the detectors." " After some ten years' working the automatic fire-alarm companies are able to show that the losses sustained by the insurance companies on detector-protected risks are loss than 5 per cent, of the premiums paid, as against t lie average loss ratio of 53 per cent, in respect of unprotected property." Appended are the following tables : — 1. Summary of calls attended by each brigade. 2. Fire loss in each district. 3. Annual cost of each brigade. 4. Summary of the causes of fires in each district. 5. Personnel and equipment of each brigade. Also detailed report dealing with each fire district. I have, &c, Thos. T. Hugo, Inspector of Fire Brigades.

1. Summary of Fire Calls.

District. Fires. Chimney Fine. Bush, Grass, and Rubbish Fires. False Alarms. Out of District. Totals. Auckland .. Christchurch Dannevirke Dunedin Feilding Gisborne Greymouth Hamilton .. Hastings Hawera Hokitika Lawrence .. Maori Hill .. Masterton .. Milton New Plymouth Oam aru Palmerston North Petone Rotoruii Timaru Whangarei .. • • • 95 95 6 88 9 22 e> 5 14 8 it 2 6 3 7 12 29 18 4 16 6 17 7 1 20 3 3 1 1 2 I 7 2 1 1 2 1 14 12 6 I I 3 2 I 2 2 1 57 52 34 7 I 1 "i 3 1 11 9 2 1 1 10 1 i 3 1 3 1 194 175 9 14!) 14 45 V) it 17 4 9 2 2 18 3 9 11 38 22 8 20 7 Totals 455 455 70 70 48 48 160 160 44 44 i 777 777