CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2119, 24 April 1920, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor.) Dear Sir. —We are now .settling down again after our two most recent fires, and the question uppermost in everyone’s mind is: “Whose turn next ?” Judging from the comments, public opinion is becoming ripe for a high-pressure water supply, and we are all glad to see that our Borough Council is again discussing the matter. Let’s hope that it won’t end there, for under present conditions even our new brick buildings are not safe provided the lire once gets a good hold.

As a temporary tire measure, however, may I m’ake one or two suggestions. If a lire is discovered in its incipient stages —at a time when prompt action might save the block —the person who discovers the tiro, has (he choice of endeavouring to put it out by liimself (with no means at Ids disposal), or of running the length of the town to ring the iirebell (a thankless task in Foxton), by which time the lire is well under way. My first suggestion is purely a temporary expedient, but 1 give it for what it is worth. Let the Council buy half-a-dozen tire-extingu-ishers of approved pattern, and place them in boxes at intervals down the street, so that they will be immediately available in case of fire. This is an ordinary precaution taken in every large factory or garage, and might well be adopted by the town. To circumvent the lightlingered, it would be well to paint (or carve) on the extinguishers ‘‘Foxton Borough Council,” or, if your belief in Hie lasting good in mankind is low, ‘‘Stolen from the Foxton Borough Council.” Alien we get our water supply these will be still saleable, provided they are not worn out by the passage of years. And my next suggestion is: Why not form a body of' volunteer lire police' At present, if a shop is threatened,-the owner is placed on the horns of a dilemma. Hindi he take his goods out and run the risk of half of them being pilfered, or shall he let them burn and ela.im the insurance ? Kit her way means a heavy loss to him. It. would be a .simple! matter to have! a few hurdles eoustructed which could lie placed to form a square on the opposite side; of the street to the lire, thereby fencing off a piece of footpath, anel 1 we) or threw lire police could be placed in charge of it. All salvage could be placed insiele Ibis cnedomire*, and a useful oee-upatiou (amid be found for many citizens who come down lo a lire as regularly, or more regularly, as Ihey go lo church. The hurdles, whem oil’ duty, might he kept in the cure of our local protectors (if the public peace. This is a central position, and most of us know where it is.—Yours, etc., ROBINSON CRUSOE.

(To liie Editor.) Sir.—One of New Zealand’s many mnllo’s is compulsory, free ami'secular ediicalion. Bui judging Hum ;1 home lesson given to some pupils ol ou!’ local sehool, “secular is seal ki!e high. Mere is n copy of (lie home lesson : —“lrish leaeiiers nniier Si. Patrick taught the Christian reliuion. and a hand ol clever men under Si. Augustme came from Italy and taught -Christianily 'througligout Europe.” .is lids (lie Ihin edge of the wedge.’ It is to be hoped there are no “goats” on our new-ly-elected . School Committee, and that this kind of home lesson will be put a slop to at once. —Yours, etc., TWO AND A-HALM.