FIRE SERVICE IN CITY

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32430, 17 October 1970, Page 14

FIRE SERVICE IN CITY

Cost revision wanted Representatives of the councils in the Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Board’s district had agreed to ask the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Seath) to have the Fire Services Act amended to provide for a more equitable basis of costs and services, said the chairman (Mr D. B. Rich) at a meeting of the Waimairi County Council on Thursday evening. In line with the present act, he said, the board had defined five different levels of service for its district, the highest service being available for the central city, and the lowest for the outer districts. “The service provided by the board is 90 per cent within the city, yet the city pays only 60 per cent of the board’s costs,” said Mr Rich. “Equipment has been bought by the board which is of use only in the high-rise part of the city. The outer local bodies helped to pay for this equipment. “The act is being revised, so it is an appropriate time to bring these matters to the notice of the Minister. Insurance companies base their premiums on the board’s grading for service, so in the county we pay, say, $1.25 per $lOOO insurance cover compared to 75c or 80c in the city centre.”