FIRE BRIGADES BOARD.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12827, 11 June 1907, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADES BOARD.

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") DUNEDIN, Juno 10. The members of tho Fire Brigades Board met to-day for the first time, anil were pretty unanimous in agreeing that under the provisions of the Fire Brigades Act, the Government will get off very light in tho matter of contribution towards the cost. It appears that by levying tho maximum rate of ls in tho £, the Corporation's contribution would-be about £1500, tho insurance companies contributing a like amount, and tho Government somewhere about £70, that being the amount the Government buildings here would be rated at. This would pro vide the Board with an annual income of a litjle over £3000. A member pointed out an anomaly in the fact that the Government, wonh! pay only on their building, whereas, v ne.essing tho contributions of individual insurance companies, the amount fl Sremiums received is to be the basis heso premiums., he said, were on boli buildings ond stock, and in tho case of a Government building lileo tho Pcet Office, the stock contained was of the value of something like £200,000. _1k contributions are payable to tho Board quarterly One member stated that they would receive no income until September Ist. while the Act did not provide them with power to borrow money to cany on in the meantime. It was also pointed out that the Act required amending; in several particulars. 'There wae no disqualification clause , for mem ber__ while among other matters re quiring attention were those of new districts coming in, and the contract of automatic fire alarms, etc. . A sub-committee was appointed to draft proposed amendments to ttid Bill to be introduced this session. '■'■' '■"*"*■:.>;' At a meeting of the Christohuroli Fire Brigades Board yesterday, Mr J. D. Hall was,elected chairman.