ADDRESS BY CAPTAIN HUGO.

Shannon News, 8 October 1926, Page 4

ADDRESS BY CAPTAIN HUGO.

Following is an address delivered by Captain Hugo, M.I. Fire E., Inspector of Fire Brigades, to the delegates of the United Fire-brigades’ Association of New Zealand <at their annual conference held in Dunedin: — “I have had no reason of recent years to complain of any want of personal attention whilst delivering my address —quite the contrary; but, whilst the practical results have been fairly wide-reaching, they have not been so to the extent 'I had hoped. Unfortunately, in the past there have been some delegates who immediately they leave the conferenceffiall appear, to forgot all that has been said, or consider it of not sufficient importance to make a*ny de : tailed report upon their return to the brigade they represent. However, I believe that phase is passing, and that the very large majority of the delegates of late are evincing much more practical interest in the proceedings at the conferences. I

First, I have something to say on that evergreen and serious subject—the great and disproportionate waste by fire that prevails in New’Zealand. In the September, 1925, issue of the journal Fire appears an editorial article with the heading in large type ‘ ‘Britain is Burnipg,” and which states, “the first sevfen months of the year have been marked by an estimated fire loss in Great Britaiif and Ireland of nearly £6,000,000. The loss, of course, is considerably, greater; there is the displacement of wage-eaniers and the unfulfilled business contract to be considered. ’ ’ The loss in Great Britain and Ireland for. twelve months, on the same ratio, would amount, to £10,285,716 or approximately 4s 4d per head of population; while the estimated fire loss in New Zealand for the corresponding tw-elve months is £1,150,000 —approximately 17s per capita, or nearly four times the loss in Great Britain.

Here a digression: Whilst the Mayor was- addressing you it struck me that, although the huge fire loss in New Zea; land is, frequently referred to .in print and otherwise, the main factor' in thsn loss is, rarely mentioned, and in ;Conse-. quence many people may ascribe it due in the greater part to the ineffici-" ency of our fire brigades; but I would again state that the greatest factor in the lpss is the excessively abnormal, number of outbreaks of fire that occur in this small country-—outbreaks the largo majority of which' : are easily preventable, many of them clue to sheer carelessness; and were it not for the general efficiency- of oxir brigades the loss, huge as'it would be much’more so, even to disaster.- . .... , The article'in Eire continues as follows: “Cari any nation afford this cOntinual drag on its resources? No one is so foolish to assume that a. stage of civilised life can.be reached in. which' there will be no outbreak of fire,, but none will deny that by increased fire protection in the form of care and better organisation, a paid personnel, ant 1 more nfodern appliances, the fire, loss would bo materially reduced: The startling,feature of-it all is that none of the members of the Government seems to,recognise the great wastage caused by uncontrolled .fires. There must be a general awakening. The question ,ojover insurance, too, must be considered, and last,- but not least, legislation on fire inquests. ” Both question and arguments apply to New Zealand, and with greater force in view of the very much higher proportion of loss.' “Can the nation afford this continual drag on its resources?” —a question I have been asking in this Dominion for years past; and,, judging by the apathy of the , public in gqneral toxvards this burning question, it would appear they think it % can.' There is an omission in the arguments contained in the article in question; in that a most essential factor !in the reduction of national fire loss is: not touched upon—viz., the special education of schoolchildren, of the public generally, and fire-brigade officers in particular, in the knowledge and application of firo-pre-vention methods. I have repeatedly brought this phase of-the subject before previous conferences, citing xviiat has been done in other - countries in their endeavour to reduce their excessive fire loss, but so far with little result. The President of the United States, on the 20th September last, issued a proclamation in which, inter alia, appears the following: ‘' "he time has come for. the resurvey of the nation’s enormous wastage, alike, in human life and in property, and for the annual appeal for the lessening of this huge loss. The waste results from Mjonditions which justify a sense of shame and horror; for the greater part of it could and ought to bo prevented, for the most recent comparable period dire losses in Great Britain are calculated at less than 1 dollar per capita per annurii, while those of the United States arc placed at approximately . 5 dollars per capita. Comparisons with other European countries are similarly to our discredit. Therefore I recommend that •the week' beginning on Sunday, dth October, be observed as, a national fireprevention week. Ti State and municipal officials, civic organisations, school authorities, and all citizens and organised bodies I appeal for the fullest co-operation in limproving conditions. There is need for earnest study of the .principles of fire protection as a practical measure of national econ ) J

omy In view of the comparatively similar conditions prevailing, in New Zealand, common-sense and sound economy .do-' maud a prompt national movement in tlie direction, of reducing the fire waste in this Dominion. Also, with the same object in view, now having quite a largo number of professional officers in New 'Zealand, I would strongly advocate the establishment of a professional fire-brigade officers ’ association on the same lines as one now functioning in Melbourne, and whereat lectures on fire-prevention and fire-protection matters are alternated with visits to the larger factories and other industrial buildings—altogether an educational methbd of considerable value to fire- j

brigade officers; and I would suggest that membership of the proposed asso-

ciatious be open 'to those • chief officers of volunteer brigades who take sufficient intereslffin fire-prevention-matters to apply for membership. It is essential that members of the corps should be' well-known men of in the town, thus already havifif 1 a certain amount of authority with the public. It has come to my knowledge that persons in the above category who have been approached, but the conditions not proirerly explained to them, consider it somewhat infra dig. to enrol in such a body. On the contrary, it is a position entailing considerable. responsibility; they are "sworn in as special constables and have all the authority of a constable whilst oh duty at a fire. Members are not asked to do the work of the firemen, nor are they expected to run from one end ot the town to the other to every alarm of fire; their activities are desired more in the neighbourhood of their own residences or business premises—anything further lies in their own discretion. Their duties are, for iustanee, to keep the public in order—prevent them interfering with or hindering the work of the brigade; to take charge of and direct. whilst the. brigade is otherwise occupied, any necessary salvage work, thus preventing the unnecessary damage to property so often caused by irresponsible persons during such operations; to prevent the thieving 'common on the occurence of large fixes; to see salvaged property placed in safety;- to take charge of firemen or civilians injured at fires; in cases of fires of magnitude where the help of citizens is necessary,, to control and direct such help. In the above and many other ways, directly and indirectly, the corps is . a valuable asset 1o any town. The only expenditure necessary is the cost of an armlet to be carried in the pocket, and placed around the upper left arm when on duty at a fire. In every town there are some men more or less independent in the matter of time at their own disposal, and it is up to them to enrol, in the interest and for the benefit of their town and* fellowcitizens, and in some degree assist in reducing the general, lire waste. There is a steadily increasing num

ber of fires due to the more general, use of electricity for domestic purposes, such as electric irons, toasters, kettles, etc., in nearly every case caused, by carelessness or forgetfulness to switch olf the current when the apparatus is not in general use, and there will be no real safety in the use of such apparatus until some device is invented that will automatically cut off the current at a set temperature, and the fitting of the device made compulsory.

A large number of fires still occur clue to tire improper insulation of kettles, rings, stoves, and otter apparatus lieated by gas or electricity. As>repeatedly stated, and illustrated by tangible exhibits, sheets of iron or of j asbestos, or of both together, are no protection from fire when laid in cou- ' j'tact flat on the top of or on side walls Jof combustible material; on the contrary, they increase) the danger, in tliat they are both good conductors of heat, and hide what is going on beneath or behind until some time,, when perhaps no person is about, the material on which the so-called insulation is laid—generally wood, of course —bursts into flame, and another mysterious' fire occurs. For all descriptions of heat-ing-apparatus there should be an air- | space between the. insulation and the j material it is intended to protect. More than once a request has been made to the Department that the Inspector of Fire Brigades should compile a manual of instruction for the use of the Now Zealand fire brigades; but the answer has been that the Inspector has not sufficient time at his, disposal for that purpose! Whether or not I shall have the opportunity later I cannot say; in the meantime, however, I would draw the attention of fire-brigadesmen to the manual issued by the National Fire Brigades Union of Great Britain—a comprehensive and useful publication.

And now, in conclusion, some advice and a warning: Your association, including as it does practically the whole membership of the firc-fightiug force of the Dominion, is, or should Be, a power in the land, and it behoves you to use that power and use it wisely. This conference has been the most businesslike

I have yet attended,, and in the practical matters, brought before you by the officers of your executive and others, such as the further standardisation of plant and appliances, extension of the depot business, modernisation of the competitions, compilation of a manual of instruction, etc., I can see the beginning of an era of greater usefulness on the part of your association, always provided that the right .men are henceforth appointed as delegates 1 to the Conferences jby their respective (brigades—appointed asldelegates not from a mere, sense of good fellowship, nor solely on the score of prominence in competitions, but chosen, for their ability and energy; enthusiastic men who exhibit keen interest in all matters that tend to promote the efficiency of their own brigade and the fire service generally. iFrom ( my own observation I know there are men of this character in most of our volunteer brigades; and in this observance lies the welfare and success, even the future existence, of the Fire Brigades of New Zealand.”,