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and training, and the payment of contributions by Government and underwriters towards the costs of municipal brigades, were subsequently developed in detail and were submitted to the Fire Boards' Association, to the Municipal and Underwriters' Associations as representing the contributors to Fire Board funds, and to the Service organizations. A number of discussions later took place with and between these interested parties, and the proposals were finally submitted to the parliamentary Committee on Local Government in 1945. 29. The various phases of the emergency organization and also the detailed proposals for postwar reorganization are discussed under appropriate headings below. FIRE PROTECTION OF MILITARY CAMPS AND AIR FORCE STATIONS 30. It has been indicated above that the expansion in the Armed Forces which took place immediately after the war was for the first two years, so far as New Zealand was concerned, on a training basis. Some of the Air Force stations were intended for permanent occupation, and even whore this did not apply the buildings were usually of a semi-permanent nature and in most cases a permanent water-supply was installed. The basis made standard for the latter was to provide a supply of 400 g.p.m. available for fire-fighting in addition to the normal domestic draw-off. Most of the Air Force stations were supplied for domestic purposes on a low-pressure system by pumping from river or well into a storage tank giving a static pressure of about 301b./sq. in. Provision for fire-fighting was made by installing an electrically driven high-pressure pump in the base of the tower, operating in most cases by distant control on alarm of fire. This increased the static pressure to 100-120 lb./sq. in., but to provide against possible breakdown of this arrangement all the stations were supplied with standard fire-engines or crash-tenders fitted with a 400 g.p.m. pump. In some cases where the property at risk did not justify a full reticulation, provision was made for protection of outlying buildings by operation with overland hose either from the mains or from some static water-supply. A further reserve was provided in many cases by the installation of swimming-pools from which overland supply could be taken. An interesting instance of ultra low-pressure operation was provided at Waiouru Military Camp, where supply from a convenient stream gave a static head of only 16-18 lb./sq. in. Large mains were installed, and these were fitted with above-ground hydrants for direct coupling with the 4 in. suction hose. The camp was equipped with a 400 g.p.m. fire-engine and a standard trailer pump. By operating these from adjoining hydrants it was possible to bring 600 g.p.m. to bear on any building in the camp. 31. The Air Force stations had, in addition to fire protection, to be provided with crash-tenders. When the war broke out there were only two stations in operation—Wigram and Hobsonville. These had been equipped in 1938 with a compromise fire-engine crash-tender fitted with carbon dioxide cylinders, a standard 400 g.p.m. turbine pump, and a 300-gallon water-tank for foam-production using a foam 1 making branch pipe. We had in New Zealand a fair stock of a German foam-making solution (Schaumgeist) which had been imported for dealing with oil-fires. There was no time to import standard equipment, and after some experimental work a branch pipe was produced which gave satisfactory results with this material. In addition to the combination unit, which was later used for fire-engine purposes only, crash-tenders were developed on a heavy truck chassis, on six-wheel units for heavy cross-country duty and on a light chassis for emergency-landing-strip and bombing-range work. These were all equipped with a 120 g.p.m. rotary pump which was specially designed for the purpose. The mechanical foam and carbon dioxide equipment was standard on all tenders, but the body design varied according to special requirements. It is satisfactory to note that these units uniformly proved effective in operation and also that, despite the initial difficulties, in no case did a New Zealand station commence flying without crash equipment. 32. In peacetime it is the practice to place the fire protection, of military stations under the control of an N.C.O. firemaster, who usually has some fire-fighting experience with the civilian service. Fire crews are provided from the rank and file of station personnel, who in the course of a series of tours of duty oil fire, picket obtain a fair working knowledge of the handling of fire-fighting equipment. This method of working is not satisfactory in wartime, when the station personnel is changing rapidly. In the early stages of the war all three Services acted on a recommendation that special fire crews should be established. This was particularly important in the Air Force, where effective crash-tender work requires a fairly high standard of training. The civilian fire service was asked to supply firemagters to train the specialist personnel, and considerable credit is due to these officers for the standard, of efficiency attained. _ 33. During 1942-43 a large number of operational camps was established, both for the home defence of this country and later as rest and training camps for the Allied Forces on service in the Pacific. These were mostly of the dispersed type, personnel being mainly accommodated under canvas or in small huts. The messing, store, ablution, and entertainment buildings were comparatively small and of limited value. The camps did not justify a major fire-protection organization, and emphasis was laid on first-aid operation. Ample supplies of bucket pumps and similar equipment were made available, and a memorandum of fire protection was prepared with particular reference to this type of camp. In addition, arrangements were made for the Fire Brigade Superintendents in the adjacent towns to make inspections and to advise the camp administrative staff on fire-protection matters generally. FINANCE 34. It was considered by Government in 1940, when approving the modified Scheme B recommended by the Chiefs of Staff, that the provision of fire-protection requirements for earthquake was the responsibility of the local authorities. The latter were therefore asked to contribute £50,000— sufficient to implement Scheme A. This was agreed to, subject to the payment of one-fourth of the total cost by the underwriters. The latter pointed out that their ordinary policies did not cover either war or earthquake risks, but agreed to make the required contribution following representations from the Fire Service officers that the additional equipment to be made available would lie of considerable value for dealing with ordinary fires. The insurance contribution was allocated as follows : Auckland, £12,700; Hamilton, £500 ; Gisborne, £1,250 ; Hastings, £800 ; New Plymouth, £1,174 ; Wanganui, £1 548; Palmerston North, £2,860; Wellington, £8,080; Hutt Valley, £2,738; Blenheim, £600, Nelson, £1,100 ; Christchurch, £7,600 ; Timaru, £1,250 ; Dunedin, £6,600 ; Invercargill, £1,200. The insurance contributions were paid through the Fire Boards and were collected on the same basis as the statutory levy.

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