THE FIRE THREAT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 73, 29 August 1947, Page 5

THE FIRE THREAT

COUNTY SERVICE SUGGESTED MOBILE TRAILER-PUMP The threat of fire in the County which from time to time has given rise to considerable concern was fully discussed at the meeting of the Whakatane County Council on Tuesday. when the offer of a co-operative gesture from the Whakatane Fire Board was referred to open Council.

The Board advised that it had under offer from the Government certain valuable plant and equipment from surplus war stocks. This would be especially suitable for fire fighting in the smaller built upon areas in the County, and for fighting bush and forest fires. If a suitable and mutually satisfactory arrangement could be made with the Council, the Board would favourably consider acquiring the equipment. The proposal to be made *by the Board would be to provide attendance at fires in the built upon areas within the County in return for some annual payment to assist pay the expenses attaching to attendance and towards the storage and running and maintenance costs of the equipment.

The Clerk reported that a deputation comprising Messrs. Shapley, Creeke and Saunders from the Board waited on the committee. Mr Shapley stated a towing unit was under offqr of loan to the Fire Board. Such vehicle, with the pump which was already on loan, would give a fire service to Ohope, Matata, Edgecumbe and Taneatua. It was suggested the County should make a £IOO contribution for such fire protection, men’s pay when at fires to be additional to this sum. The £IOO would be expended on the rural service and the maintenance of the plant. Under its present set-up the Borough Council had two members on the Fire Board, the Fire Underwriters had two members, and the Government two members. Roughly, the Borough and the Fire Underwriters paid £4OO per annum each to the Fire Board and the Government contribution was £SO.

Mr Creeke stated a Bill was being prepared on the matter of rural fire eontroL The question was whether the Council would consider extending the district of the local brigade.

The chairman said that in view of the State and Rural Forest Fires Bill which was about to be introduced he wondered just what the responsibilities of the Council would be. In every other respect he strongly favoured the suggestion.

Cr McGougan: It’s quite all right but what about a water supply in the small townships? The chairman: They can draw water from a tank or pond and have a long hose lead. The main idea would be to stop a large conflagration sweeping an entire settlement.

Cr Wardlaw: If it can prevent forest and scrub fires I’m very favourably disposed. It would be a safeguard to big plantations we have inside this County. Cr Hunter also pointed out that under the Government scheme the fire fighting services throughout the whole Dominion would be practically compulsory. Until the terms of this scheme were announced he would not like to favour committing the Council in any way. The chairman: If we did agree to have it introduced we would have to see that it was run on a voluntary basis and that the County firemen trained with the established brigades.

Cr Butler: I don’t think we would have any difficulty in that. Plenty of young farmer’s sons would be only too willing to join a voluntary scheme.

Cr Cawte expressed himself as being deeply impressed with the offer which amounted to a genuine gesture of co-operation from the Borough Brigade. Cr Leslie stated that the service would be limited mainly to Waimana, Taneatua, Matata and Edgecumbe and could not be expected to assist the individual farmer. The Council. decided to defer its decision for a month in order to discover if possible the details of the new Rural Fires Bill which might involve them. The Board will in the meantime be thanked for its offer which the Council viewed most favourably.