MUCH-NEEDED FIRE PROTECTION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 20, 19 October 1943, Page 4

MUCH-NEEDED FIRE PROTECTION

Last week’s discussion by the Wellington Fire Board of proposals to strengthen the fire-fighting forces of the Johnsonvtlle-Khandallah area has served to draw public attention to a hazard which must be adequately provided for. In this area are two institutions, the Women’s Borstal Institute and the Porirua Mental Hospital. The latter institution, in particular, requires to have available the mos adequate means of fire-fighting. It accommodates nearly ibOU patients in buildings, some of which are not of a modern, fire-resisti ig tvpe. No doubt there are facilities, and certain organization, on the premises for fire-fighting, but it seems essentia! that trained services should also be handily available. . , The superintendent of the Wellington Brigade made it clear to the meeting that, in the event of a call from the Porirua hospital he would not hesitate to cross the boundary of jus district. That is a ri-ht and reassuring attitude, but it should not mean that responsibility fol- the safety of the hospital is considered to rest in part on the men and appliances some considerable distance away. . This appeal s to be fully recognized by the hoard, but there is opposition to a proposa to strengthen the Johnsonville-Khandallah service by the development of the E.F.S. on the lines of a volunteer brigade established as a It is difficult to sympathize with Mr. Glover’s objection to this, or to agree that at a time of acute manpower shortage he is justified in demanding that “a proper unit of the brigade be formed. V 011 ” 1 ’ teer brigades have a splendid record and tradition in this country, and with the training the E.F.S. personnel have already undergone they would doubtless become an excellent volunteer group. As t.ie vat situation has developed, the E.F.S. is a large, costly orgamza ion standing idle. To ignore it, and instead to appoint additional fulltime firemen in the present condition of the country s manpower resources, surely would be a most prodigal and wasteful policy. 1 here will be ample leisure time in which to reconsider the status ot the district service when the war is over and more men are available for full-time employment.