FIRE BOARD.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15772, 13 December 1916, Page 12

FIRE BOARD.

• MONTHLY • MEETING. The month!'y meeting of tho -Christcinirch •Fire Board wis held last, night. Present— Hia "Worship the Mayor (in lb© chair), and Messrs J. P. Grierson, H. B. Rusbridge, W. H. Cooper, W. B. McKcnzic, H. P. Hopkin«, and 'A. Williams.• A letter was received from the Christchuroh City Council with rcgurd to tho employment of firc'men at pictorc- theatres, stating that the matter was in the hands of the Board. A letter from tho Superintendent to the chairman of tho Fir© Board was ako received, the writer expressing the hope t.bat tho Board would reconsider its decision that firemen were not needed at picture theatres except at evening and holiday eeesions. M!r Grierson paid that ho objected to tho Superintendent's action in writing the> letter. as the Board had already made its decision on this matter, and it-was for tbc Superintendent to carry out th« Board's directions. -He moved that the. letter be received. The motion w<i« carried. Mr Grierson gavo notice of motion that the former resolution of the Board requiring the attendance of firemen at all performances at picture theatres bo rescinded, this being with a viow to moving that firemen be only required to'attend at evening performances, Saturday afternoons, and on holidays. . With regard to Metars Turubull and Jones'a claim for expenses connected with the installation of the GaroeweJl Recorder and alterations, the chairman was authorised to make a full eottlcmont with tho a sum not exceeding £36 10s. Before deciding on tbo question, of a certain a-rea of tho county going into a district for fire prevention purposes, the Wsimain Council wTot© and asked for certain information, viz.:—(l) -As ' according to law; fir® insurance companies pay liaif the coat of . all Firo Boards, will half the cmount oi tho estimate submitted to us by intendent be borne by .tbc insurance companies? (2) Is it no* possible ior your Superintendent to slightly alter his echcme eo M to d«a' with the Waimairi County separately, without ' associating it in the matter of finance, etc., with districts under tho control of other local bodies'' •It was staled that the reply to tho first question was in tbe negative, ana to tho cccond in tbo affirmative. The Superintendent reported that during tbe month there had • been nin© calls (three fake alarms), and the fire" loss was £SSo. Four of the staff bad resigned and oho had deserted. One man had been transferred from tbc auxiliary to tho permanent .staff, and two others had been appointed to tho permanent staff on probation. iir Grierson moved, and it was carried, that tile Superintendent he called in acd asked wiiy the members of tho staff bad resigned. Mr Grierson also moved that in future tbe Superintendent's report should be circulated to member® at the same tirac aa the agtuda paper, and the motion was carried. The Superintendent wis called in and gave the required information in committee with reference to tho resignations. .The Superintendent xroio with regard to the attendance at firms in outside borougka, and asked, on behalf of himself and the Deputy-Superintendent, that tbc Board mako an incroaso i:i their salaries He pointed out that tho firs- district had toon largely increased during t.bc p a ßt four years. Jt was resolved that the IVeputy-Snpcrin-te.ndcnt.'s salary bo increased by £15 per annum from January. end that tbc Board could not seo its way to increase tho Superintendent's salary at present. It was resolved that the Sinperinttndont instructed to prepare spocifioiiions for two now motors as rtv^immc-ndtd. The statement of receipta aad expenditure showed that theri was a credit balance of £1278 3s - •