Sessional_Paper_1949 — Page 16

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containers in a hot climate. As Mr. Terry explained in his evidence, theories of spon- taneous combustion must always be regarded with suspicion and only accepted in the last resort. His theory that the relative instability of certain portions of the film was due to some peculiar quality in the cement used for splicing he admitted to be a novel one; he had never heard of such an explanation before. It is for these reasons that we regard his theory of origin only as the "most acceptable", and we have not been able in our minds to rule out conclusively some other explanation why the film should have caught fire.

45. We heard a considerable volume of evidence on the subject of a certain type of Caustic Soda which was stored in Godown No. 5. Eight drums of this material were found to contain as an impurity metallic sodium, which inflames violently on contact with water. This material is therefore considerably more dangerous to handle than ordinary Caustic Soda. We heard evidence that on the night of 20th September, some drums of Caustic Soda were moved out of the Wing On Godown No. 1 to a lighter, and during the course of removal operations a small fire took place. It is clear that this consignment too must have contained metallic sodium which somehow came in contact with water. Although the Fire Brigade were aware of this fire, the incidence of the great conflagration two days later prevented its adequate following up. Although much suspicion attached to this Caustic Soda, it was not in close proximity to the place. of storage of the cinematograph film and it was well sealed up; we think that its instrumentality in the ultimate cause of the fire may be ruled out.

Contents of Godown No. 5:

46. During the course of his investigations, Mr. Terry prepared a plan of the contents of godown No. 5 as they were found after the fire. Not every substance could be identified, as both the stock-book and the placement-book for the godown were destroyed in the cockloft of Godown No. 2. But after the investigation, it was clear that there were stored in Godown No. 5 the following substances which would be classified as Dangerous Goods under the Regulations to the Ordinance of 1873:-

Category 3

Category 4 (1)

Category 5

Category 6

Category 7

Contents of Godown No. 2:

Calcium Cyanamide

Cellulose Lacquer

Caustic Soda

Phenol Crystals

Aniline Oil

Sodium Bichromate

47. The stock-books of Godown No. 2 survived the fire, and what remained of the stock in that godown was found to correspond with that shown in the books. There were in this godown a number of substances which would be Category 8 Dangerous Goods, but there was no objection to storage of these goods in that godown without a licence, as it was neither partially used for nor connected with domestic premises. There was however some Camphor, which although not specifically mentioned in the regulations, should, because of its flash point, be considered as in Category 4 (2). It is only fair to state that nobody connected with the administration of the licensing regulations considered that it should be treated other than as a substance falling within Category 3. During October, a very thorough check of the goods in Godown No. 2 was made by Detective Sub-Inspector A. Shaw and plans prepared of all floors. It became clear that with the exception of the Camphor, there was little that was highly com- bustible adjacent to the southern wall of Godown No. 2. The Camphor was on the first floor, and, curiously enough, was only imperfectly combusted. When the flames penetrated into this godown, it is probable that the packing cases rather than the goods themselves caught alight, but it was quite impossible to reach any more exact explanation for the fierceness of the fire in this godown.

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