Uneasy About Prospects Of Another Big Fire

Chronicle (Levin), 6 April 1949, Page 3

Uneasy About Prospects Of Another Big Fire

Press Association)

(Per

AUCKLAND, April 5. "It is to our shame that we must admit that 99 per eent. of buildings in the country are so eontrueted that uinler favourable coixditions they couid be burnt to the ground by oue uitwit with a cigarette." Inspecting Oihcer A. W. Crook, M.B.E., Auckland, said this today wheji the annual conference of the Institution of Fire Engiueers was resumed in Auckland. t , Referring to the reeommendations of, the Royal Commission after its inquiry into the Christchurch fire - disaster, Inspector Crook said there was little evidence of them being implemented and people concerned with lire protection were uneasy about the prospect of another niajor tragedy. "No thinking person will deny that at present the fire protection of this Dominion is in a sovry plight," he said. "Publie complacency, allied with migratory fire protection laws and iuadequate fire defences, both public and private, combine to create a situation shameful to a population which proudly claims to head the world in social services." When the subjeet of sprinkler systems was discussed, Mr. R. Preston (Auckland) suggested that the Customs and saies taxes on imported fire fighting equipment was too righ. It cost, for instanee, over £2000 in saies tax-to land the brigade's new. ladder.