NATIONAL FIRE BOARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1061, 27 August 1930, Page 10

NATIONAL FIRE BOARD

INVESTIGATING LOSSES IN DOMINION WELLINGTON PROPOSAL 'f From Our Resident Reporter WELLINGTON, Today. A National Board, charged with the question of thorough investigation of fires and fire causes, designed to act as a.check to the careless and criminal, as well as an educational force, may come into existence as the result of negotiations which are proceeding between Mr. A. V. Shorter, representative of the Council of Fire Underwriters, Mr. J. H. Jerram, superintendent of the State Fire Insurance Company, and the Minister in charge of the State Fire Insurance Department. Sir Apirana Ngata. The invitation to appoint a member to a committee created to investigate the question of New Zealand's tire waste came to the underwriters from the Government, and Mr. Shorter was their nominee. Some fairly extensive investigations were undertaken, and it is understood that the committee prepared memoranda for the Government in which it suggested methods of fire prevention, such as the compulsory installation of fire-fighting appliances in certain buildings, an anti-fire educational campaign, and additional regulations for safety in earthquakemenaced areas. INVESTIGATING CAUSES

The major question under consideration, however, is the establishment of a board to investigate fire causes, and the question now under considertion has been what authority shall he vested in the board. The development. of the matter has been retarded by the change of Ministry, and also by Mr. Forbes’s compulsory preoccupation with finance, but early developments are now expected. Association with the committee, which has been in close touch with Sir Apirana Ngata. was Captain Hugo, inspector of fire brigades. The great annual fire loss of the Dominion (something like 5s a head each year) has caused concern to the Government, and it is regarded as certain to act in the near future, as soon as finality is reached on the present proposals.