THAT FIRE SIREN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 150, 22 April 1940, Page 5

THAT FIRE SIREN

IKOPEOPEO COHIPLAINT HOSPITAL BOARD MENTIONS MATTER DISCUSSION AT FIRE BOARI> MEETING The question of the fire siren recently installed at Kopeopeo, -and which was the subject of -some discussion by the Bay of Plenty Hospital Board at its meeting on Thursday morning, was raised at the meeting of the Whakatane Fire Board, when a .letter was received from the former body pointing out that the loudness and proximity of the siren to the Hospital caused some to the patients, "jhe letter also advised that the [Medical Superintendent was authorised to supply any information on the matter from the Hospital point of view. At the isame time a letter from several residents in the area affected -also complained about the alarm, I -and advised that a deputation •was waiting on the Board. "Mr Shapley said that the alarn ■sounded on a recent night, and as ii -was not functioning properly,, i •continued longer than necessary. Mr Wilson: If it affects the Hospital consideration will have to b< Agiven to it.

Superintendent's Remarks. Superintendent Stewart explained that on the occasion to which the complaints referred, it had been •used in a test of the Brigade's efficiency. The alarm system was not yet complete and the additional AVire which had to be fitted would make the difference to the functioning to the alarm. The Superintendent went into some detail about the ' tests ,on that night and said thai the siren had continued for six min-i-utes. The time had been taken or Si reliable stop-watch. Mr Wilson suggested that if th< was not operating correct ly it might be just as well to discon ?tinue its use until such time as i nvas functioning in the proper man Her. The Superintendent advised tlia that it was impossible to guarante< fthe length of time the siren migh •.sound for. It could be any thin' jbetween 2 and 9 minutes and de ipended on certain factors. iMr Shapley-: Can we put it in an other place? Mr Schofield: I don't see why w should. It was put. there for a pur pose. Mr Cutler: A woman living nea was in a frightful state and w have to consider individual cases i we can, although the siren was plat .ed in that area for effectiveness. Deputation's Case.

:Mr G. Marsh, speaking for the "deputation, said that those complaining failed to see the necessity for the siren. Members of the ■Board, he said, could have no con- ' ception of how bad the noise was. ■ His wife had had to see the doctor the next day, such an effect was by the siren. Another woman resident had been in a serious nervous state since. He had three .children but after the recent experience he was convinced that he • could not go out and leave the children at home by themselves. In his opinion the only remedy was to remove the siren. Mr Marsh asked about the telephone system of alarnn and added that he could have rilled the Board room i a deputation • concerning the noise and nuisancc •of the siren last Monday night. The windows vibrated, he said. Even ar •ordinary alarm would be bad enougl Mr Shapley: A fire would be worsi Mr Marsh: The sirens have beer . abolished in the cities, I understand Mr Cumming: Far from it. Mr Marsh: It only affects those Iv ing near it.

Mr Gumming: That, unfortunately, is your position. Questions by Board. Mr Schofield: What if a fire broke --out in your house? Mr Marsh: I have tried to think of that —in fact to look at the position •all round. Could not the 'phone system operate? Mr Wilson: There are firemen living in the area. The siren is to inform them of the fire. Mr Marsh: Can't they be notified by 'phone? Mr Wilson: Surely you realise the , -difference. You are condemning .everything on a test.

Mr Cutler: Did you enquire from llie office about the cause of the siren sounding? Did j r ou not know that tlie I"ire control it? Did you know that we had had no ieport? it is a volunteer brigade and efficiency lias to be tested. \ou knew that there Ave re members of the Board representing the residents of the Borough. Did you not realise that the Board would not allow a thing like that to pass without an explanation from, the Superintendent? For some years, said Mr Shapley, it had been considered necessary to have an alarm system at Ivopeopeo. The alarm recently installed had been purchased lrom Auckland, and when there it had been situated in a populous area. The siren at the Fire Station was louder than that at Ivopeopeo and there had been 110 complaints received. The Board was there to serve the public and; it would consider the views expressed. Effect at Hospital. Dr. E. Tewsley Dawson said he was appearing as Medical Superintendent of the Whakatane Hospital. The noise made by the siren was rather unpleasant for the patients and the awakening was sometimes a serious matter. He came, he said, to see if anything could be done by the Board. "I live near a fire siren in Auckland," said Mr Cumming, "and I am seldom disturbed by it." Dr Dawson: But patients *n hospital are rather different from your case! The si,ren always has an effect on nervous people and kiddies, but it is different in hospital. Mr Cumming: On the figures before us it seems that it will go only two or three times a year. Dr Dawson: Of course, we can't say how many times a year it will'

General Discussion. "It's a new tiling," said Mr Marsh. "The Board would have dealt with the matter," observed Mr Sehoficld. "That is what it is here for." "You must allow the Board the knowledge of these matters," said Mr Gumming. "The Superintendent of the Auckland Metropolitan Brigade inspected the position and it was on his advice that the siren was placed there. Other means of alarm may be more expensive and not so efficient." Mr L. R. Spring, a member of the deputation, thanked the Board for a patient hearing. The views expressed were the views of the people of the district. However,, he appreciated the position now and had confidence in the Board. Messrs Cumming and Wilson pointed out that to shift the siren, even hall' a mile from its present position, would make little or no difference. It would still be heard. "'Wherever it goes it is going to annoy somebody," said Mr Cutler. Mr Wilson moved that the matter be left with the local members of the Board and the motion was carried.