H.—l2

and the fact that very large numbers of these pumps have been used successfully in the Middle East and Pacific war areas fully justifies the decision. The unit is a general utility one. It was adapted as a sledge pump for direct coupling to the mains for water-supply requirements and for fire-fighting on ships. Sledge units were also fitted on heavy trucks which were adapted for laying twin lines of 3f in. hose. These towed a large-capacity trailer pump and together constituted the standard " water unit" developed for overland operation from static water-supplies. The capacity of the pump (400 g.p.m.) made tandem operation with most of the brigade appliances practicable. There were, however, certain purposes, such as waterfront operation, for which larger pumps were desirable. It was thought advisable not to experiment with the manufacture of these in New Zealand, but our requirements (twenty-nine in all) were obtained from Britain. 58. During 1942, fire-fighting equipment was urgently required in the Middle East and Pacific war areas. Samples of the New Zealand standard pump were sent overseas and large orders were placed by the Eastern Supply Council and for the American Forces in the Pacific. The New Zealand production was divided between these orders and our own requirements, which included, in addition to Civil Defence, the provision of trailer pumps for the protection of electricity supply installations, linen-flax factories, and large industrial buildings. Arrangements had been made in 1941 for the Colonial Motor Co. to take charge of production and to arrange for manufacture of components and ancillary equipment by subcontractors in the principal centres. Additional man-power was made available and the rate of production stepped-up to meet the new demands. When the war position cleared up so far as New Zealand was concerned in 1943, most of the Civil Defence trailer pumps (193 out of 289, including a reserve stock of 74 which had not been distributed to brigades) were released for overseas requirements. The large-scale production continued until the middle of 1945. In addition to trailer pumps, considerable numbers of fire-engines, both the standard type and light units with front-mounted pumps, as well as crash-tenders, were manufactured for military camps and Air Force stations both in New Zealand and in the Pacific. In 1944 and 1945 a few fire-engines were also supplied to the regular fire service. The total wartime production of fire-fighting appliances set out below must be recognized as a very creditable effort on the part of what was, before the war, only a minor industry :— Standard trailer pumps — Armed Forces overseas (including Civil Defence releases) .. .. 1,589 Miscellaneous New Zealand requirements .. .. . • ■ ■ 173 Standard pumps fitted as stationary units .. .. • • •. 49 Standard (400 g.p.m.) fire-engines (Armed Forces, 33 ; Fire Service, 17) .. 50 Small (300 g.p.m.) fire-engines .. .. • • • ■ • • 8 Hose-laying appliances fitted with sledge pump .. .. • • 1 < Crash-tenders .. .. • • • • • • • • • • Total number of appliances .. .. •• •• 1,941 59. In addition to these fire-fighting appliances, a large quantity of ancillary fire-fighting equipment has been produced by the New Zealand industry. Each trailer pump carried 400 ft. of hose, together with the necessary branches, standpipes, breechings, &c., for operation as an independent appliance providing deliveries up to 1J in. The standard coupling adopted was the 2j in. instantaneous pattern fitted for either 2| in., 2f in., or 3f in. canvas hose as required. The type adopted was that m use in Auckland and Wellington. It was copied from the British Standard pattern, but unfortunately in pre-war days no Standard drawings were available and variations in dimensions had been introduced by different manufacturers. A Standard coupling was therefore designed which would fit most of the 2f in. couplings in use in New Zealand brigades but which is not interchangeable with the British Standard. This is unfortunate, but could not be helped under the circumstances. The essential thing at the time was to get the emergency appliances interchangeable with as much as possible of the equipment in use in the pre-war service. The quantities of principal items of minor equipment supplied in New Zealand and for overseas requirements during the war period were: couplings, 21,700; standpipes, 2,000; branches, 4,400 ; breechings (sets of one dividing and one collecting), 2,756 ; nozzles, 13,100 ; branch standards, 1,990. 60. One important item of equipment of which we were in short supply throughout the greater part of the emergency period and which could not be manufactured in New Zealand was canvas fire hose. It unfortunately occurred that in 1938 the importations were below normal. Delays occurred in 1939 in obtaining the necessary importation licenses and the year's indents had not been shipped when the war broke out. Large orders were placed by commercial firms in 1940 and by Government, but, owing to the urgent British requirements due to air attacks, only a limited quantity was shipped to New Zealand during 1940 and 1941. A considerable proportion of these shipments was lost by enemy action. Following the outbreak of war with Japan and the threat to this country, large shipments were made and supplies came to hand fairly rapidly from the middle of 1942 onwards. The limited supplies of hose available in the early stages made it necessary to modify the training methods to meet this shortage and to have available more pumps than would otherwise have been necessary. The orders placed by brigade-controlling authorities and the Government during the emergency period totalled approximately 250,000 ft. and 1,250,000 ft. respectively, of which one-third was 3§in. or 3i in hose intended for overland operation. Approximately one-third of the Government stock was subsequently made available for overseas requirements, 200,000 ft. became unserviceable m training, 450,000 ft. has been handed over to the fire service under the reorganization scheme, and the remainder to the War Assets Realization Board for disposal. 61. It will be appreciated from what has been said that the real emergency was over before ever the major part of the equipment ordered was put into commission. This does not mean the programme could not have been accelerated if the war situation had made this necessary. It is estimated that by November, 1942, when the American landings in the Solomons put a definite period to the Japanese southward advance, we could, with some improvisation, have put all the pumps and about half the hose and most of the ancillary equipment into service. That we did not do so simply meant that the position justified the priorities given to the supply of equipment for overseas requirements. We did not even take delivery of 70 of the 300 standard trailer pumps ordered, but these could be considered an effective reserve because there were at all times during 1942 and 1943 at least this number eit. or awaiting shipment or in an advanced stage of manufacture. The Chiefs of Staffs had in the early

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