FIRE PROTECTION

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16988, 10 November 1920, Page 8

FIRE PROTECTION

i « CASE OF THE OUTSIDE DISTRICTS. A deputation representing outside districts waited on the Christchurch Firo Board last night to ask for extension of fire protection to those districts. The districts proposed to be protected include Riccarton borough, iSpreydon borough, the ridings of Papanui, Waivarapa, Fendalton, Riccarton, Middleton, and Avon, of the Waimain County Council, also the ridings or Cashmere, Hillsborough, and the East Linwood portion of Bromley of tho Heathcote County Council. Tiio members of the deputation were Messrs A. D. Ford, G. M. Hall, A. Manhive, and C. Av. Hervey. Mr Ford said tlie deputation wished to know' if tho Board would grant some protection for t'ko outside areas on terms to be arranged. It was felt it would be bettor to join in with tllio City Brigade lather than for the outside districts to establish brigades of their own. There was a fair amount of water available in the outside districts, quite as much as in some of the city areas, but the services of the motor chemicals alone would go far to giving protection and security. Tho flying squadron proposal, which emanated from the Christchurch Board, was approved of by the outside districts, who would bo pleased to appoint representatives to meet representatives from the Board to arrange details.

Mr Hall said tihat if the outside districts adopted a schemo of their own they would receive no contribution from

tho insurance companies, whereas if blitry joined in with the city tho contribution could bo demanded.

Mr Hervev said the people of Fendalton woultl be willing to pay adequatelv for adequate fire protection. _ Mr if. Holland said the recent Fire Board Conference had suggested legislation which would do much to meet the present difficulties. Mr Foid said tho districts wanted to get a scheme going now. Adjustments could be made later, when the new legislation was passed. Mr Hnll said the admission of the outside districts would mean the addition of new plant to the City Brigade. Mr Burgovne said tllo outside districts would have, tho benefit of that now plant. Mr J. R. Cameron said tfhat in any event one engino would be kept in reserve for use in tho outside districts. Mr A. Williams suggested that tho matter be gone into at a later conference, at which reports and maps could be presented. The chairman said that ultimately legislation would be passed authorising fire boards to operate in large metropolitan areas. He took it the outside districts recognised that if extended boundaries were fixed those boundaries would ih.ivo to be kept. Mr Ford said that point was recognised. The chairman said tho Board were sympathetic towards the request, and he honed the forthcoming conference would settle on some scheme. It would have to be understood tihat whatever cost was involved would be paid by the districts. Mr Ford said that was understood. The Board agreed to visit the districts affected, to to call a conference when the maps and reports were ready.