FIRE CONTROL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 56, 7 March 1934, Page 10

FIRE CONTROL.

CENTRAL FINANCE SCHEME. REJECTED BY BRIGADES. (Ry Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAM lETON, Tuesday. Proposals for central control of the finances of fire brigades were outlined to-day at the annual conference of the United Fire Brigades' Association by Mr. R. Girling-Butcher, chief Government inspector of fire brigades. Mr. Butcher said it was suggested that a Dominion Fire Board should be established to replace the lar'je number of boards operating separately at present. A similar scheme was in operation in Australia, where there was a central controlling authority in each State. There was at present in New Zealand a lack of standardisation among lire brigades as regards methods and equipment. The suggested board, however, would be purely financial, and would not exercise control in the administration of Iocs! districts. The central board would take over all the assets of the individual boards and authorise all necessary payments. Local committees, which would be established in place of ihe present local boards, would submit an estimate of expenses to the central board, instead of direct to the Minister of Internal Affairs, as at present. When this expenditure had been approved, the actual administration of the funds would remain in the hands of the local committee. As insurance companies paid half the coe»t of running the lire brigades, they were entitled to representation on the board. The scheme, concluded Mr. Butcher, would not weaken the authority of the United I'ire Brigades' Association. It should improve the position of both the permanent men and volunteers. A number of delegates criticised the scheme as an attempt to take control of brigades away from the local boards. A motion that the association did not consider the scheme to bo in the best interests of fire brigades in New Zealand was moved by Mr. C. W. Tyler, of Rangiora. He said that central control in Wellington was not desirable, and the Government's proposed contribution of £3300 to the local bodies was insufficient. Too much power was conferred on the control board. The motion was seconded by Mr. B. C. Bobbins, of Tauranga, a past president of tlie association, who strongly opposed the principle of Government control as far as lire brigades were concerned. The motion was carried by a large majority. Mr. Butcher said lie wished it to be understood that the resolution would not affect in any way his friendly attitude toward the United Fire Brigades' Association.