Strict control over all promises in the Settlement should be exercised with a view to reducing, not only the fire hazard but also the fever increasing number of human victims, let alone the tremendous losses resulting from con: Aagrations which seem to be more numeral each year, An excellent though tragic example the fire which destroyed a Chinese-stylo pharmacy on N. Honan Road carly yesterday morning, when the owner of the firm. sw Lwith his own eyes how the corpses of six of his relatives were lowered to the pavement while his wife is now being detained in hospital with burn wounds which may turn out to be fatal. Subsequent inspection of the premises revealed that a considerable quantity of all fand other highly inlamablo liquids were stored on the first floor while a whole room was full of matches, There can be no doubt in that goods and materials stored on premises must be in keeping with the business carried on there. Thus a paint-shop, for instance will of necessity need "stocks of inflammable liquids, but those could be stored in fire-proof rooms, and sidence, particularly cooking on such premises should be prohibited, even though such a men-sure could be enforced with difficulty only since there is such a scarcity in accommodation in the city, Elsewhere, industrial premises as well as business establishments are regularly visited by what is called the "Fire Police." These men, experts in their jobs, through advice and necessary, punishment, see to it that the slight fest fire hazard is done away with. It has been clearly shown in that the number of fires and the resultant damage has declined in most oilies of the world. In Shanghai, the problem Most dimeult one. Houses, so flimsy that it is them, Fire brickels are used (or everything ox. cept the' preserved water and in many eaves tone may Mind that the hose. carefully" encased fear "hydrants in "comparatively. apsto-date Billaings, is missing or being used For such things'#s the washing of staleecases: and motor cars. 'Shanghai residents have every reason 00 be proud of the eficency of their two Are Brigides, for they ore among the finest units of their Kind in the Word, faced with an Infinity problems daily' which. the. average. Fire Ameer elsewhere "would be almost une to ope with. Dut all this excellent work Wain if present conditions are: permtied to ree Yali, Prevention ts better than' cures an sooner this Is terized the betty for alk The Srgument that in the Interests of municipal Sconomy it would be Impossible '0. ald'a sate ficent number of qualified emeers tothe slat of the Fire Brigades, to enable them to make {ese periodieat but' thorough. Inspections. is not acceptable: while the absence of any" Tegal basis for efclent prosecution of conders coset surely "be remedied within "a comparalvel short time. " separate,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.