FIRE INQUESTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12621, 4 December 1926, Page 9

FIRE INQUESTS

‘THE THING’S ABSURD” MAY BE REQUESTED FOR ANY FIRE WOULD KEEP CORONER BUSY Very little sympathy was shown by the Wellington Fire Board yesterday with a proposal made by the Dunedin Fire Board that the Government be asked to make it compulsory to hold an inquest in reference to every fire. It was pointed out that in Wellington fires average about 30 a month, and to hold an inquest for every one was regarded as an absurdity by the members of the board, apart from the time involved on the part of the Fire Brigade Superintendent, officers, coroner end others. It was stated that the present machinery of the Act is sufficient as it enables the board to ask the coroner to hold an inquest in relation to any fire if deemed necessary, and the reply will be to this effect. The Mayor, Mr C. J. B. Norwood, firesided at the meeting of the Welington Fire Board yesterday, Mr F. C. Cray being an absentee. A letter was received from Dunedin Fire Board stating that tho question of holding an inquest into the cause of every fire in a fire district was before the board some years ago, and an application to have the Fire Brigade Act amended accordingly was made to the Minister for Internal Affairs, but the Government was not agreeable to the amendment, stating that fire boards had full power to require the coroner to hold an inquest into any particular fire. During the past 19 years two inquests had been held into the causes of fires in the Dunedin Fire District. For tho year ondod June 30th, 1926, 134 fires occurred, of which 41 were shown as causes unknown. The board was of opinion that the time was ripe for tho compulsory holding of an inquest into every fire, and they desired to know if the suggestion met with tho approval of the xnajoa fox •“***£« the Dominion^

It had been suggested that a number of fires throughout New Zealand had been caused through the use of electricity, perhaps by a defect caused in electrio installations, by the use of electric irons, fusing of wires, etc. If an inquest was held into every fire much valuable data would be obtained, and as a result precautions for. prevention of fire could be issued to the cofnmunity and a great saving in the enormous fire loss of the community effected. AN INQUEST A DAY Councillor Luckie: We should have an inquest a day, or at least three a week. Superintendent Creeke; There are about 30 fires a month. Councillor Luckie: 1 take it that the superintendent makes every possible inquiry as to the cause of any fire, and when he writes “unknown,” that is probably what the coroner would find as the result of his investigation. Councillor Bennett: There is something in the proposal, but wo don’t want to make it too cumbersome. Councillor Luckie : Thirty a month ! The thing’s absurd. The obvious answer is that which the Government gave when tho request was made before, that a coroner’s inquiry can be had for any fire if wo want it. We should reply that in our opinion that is sufficient to meet the case. The Mayor: Suppose a building is destroyed by fire and there are suspicions? Superintendent Creeke: In nil cases of suspicion the matter is put in the hands of the police for investigation, and they take action. The secretary read tho clause in the Act which gave power to take possession of property and effects concerned in a fire in the event of an inquiry being deemed necessary. The superintendent: We take charge until such time as tho insurance company takes it over. The Mayor: Suppose wo take action? The insurance companies would stand off. Councillor Luckie: The insurance companies would be only too glad to back us up. Mr Wilkie said there was the question of fires outside the district, and motors which caught fire on tho road. Mr Marks thought, that the existing machinery was sufficient io deal with tho matter. Tho suggestion made by tba Dunedin yaa tea swg:.,

bersome to work. He moved that a [ reply be sent accordingly. Councillor Luckie seconded tho motion, and this was carried.