Responsibility For Fire In Ballantyne's

Chronicle (Levin), 2 June 1948, Page 5

Responsibility For Fire In Ballantyne's

CHRISTCHURCH, June 1. The Christchurch City Couneil would submit evidence which, when added to to the existing evidence, would, it was believed, satisfv the Commission that not part of the eleetrical sejvice or equipment for which the couneil was responsible, caused or contributed to the cause of Ballantyne's fire, sgid Mr. W. R. Lascelles todav when openiaig the case for the eouneil before the Royai Commission inquiring into the fire. Mr. Leseelles added that it was also subnaitted that no 'act of the eouncil's offieei's served to cause or contribute tc tlie cause of the fire. The case for the fire board finished todav and tomorrow the first city couneil witnesses .will b3 called. A lengtliy report will be read by Mr. J. C. Forsythe, engineer to the municipal electricity department. The companv had duties to its servants to provide safe premises and conditions, Mr. Lascelles said. The princiJals of Ballantyne's had an intimate knowledge of the conditions and eircunastaiices atfecting the safetv of their staff and it was submitted they failed adequately to protect the staff against fire. "Having' failed to do so, it is submitted that they associated theniselves with tlieir insurers in the attempt to attri^bute the blanae to their own eleetrical installation in wfiieh we had but limited, obligations, " Mr. Lascelles continued. "An attempt has been made fco lay the blanae of the great loss of life and propertv on the couneil by advancing a tlaeory that a highly • qualified expect has * termed ' f antastic The eable into Ballantyne's was purchased and installed by the companv which. hired reputable contractors to do the work, ' During the whole of its life of nearly 11 years, the eable was maintained by Ballantyne's and seemed to give.honest services."