Government to Set Up Commission to enquire into Fire.

The Star-Sun, Nov 20, 1947. p.3.

The Government is to set up a commission to make a full investigatation into the whole of the circumstances of the tragic fire in Christchurch on Tuesday. This was announced in the House of Repre- sentatives yesterday by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon W. E. Parry), who said that the commission would be given all the powers necessary for a complete investigation of the whole matter.

The normal provisions of the Fire Brigades Act, 1926, empowering the Christchurch Fire Board to arrange a coronial investigation did not altogether suit the circumstances of this case in view of its magnitude, and for that reason the Government had decided to make it the subject of a full investigation by the commission, added Mr Parry. He would take an early opportunity during the next few days of announcing further particulars concerning the commission.