NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 19, 17 October 1907, Page 8

NEWS AND NOTES.

FIRE BRIGADES .BILL. The latest Firo Brigades Bill • is intended mainly to consolidate the provisions of the Fire Brigades Act, 1906, and the Bill which passed its , second .leading ■ in the Legislative) Council sdmo litfclo" time ago. Some of its clauses, however, are new, and some are of tho nature of. amendments. Cortain omissions in tho clauses relating to tho machinery of the fire boards are" made good by clauscs which disqualify .members oil tho ground'of bankruptcy, crime or insanity, or absence from three consecutive meetings, prescribe that resignations, shall be mado in writing, and that the Governor inay appoint a member when the local authority or fire insurance Companies fail to do so. ' Tho financial cliniscs are. modified by providing that tho fire board's annual estimate shall include, not only tho recurrent annual expondituro, but iiJso tho capital expenditure on property, which, however, may, with tlm Minister's consent, bo spread over a number of years. The estimate may iueludo tho amount of any deficiency, and shall take account of any surplus. Tho clause dealing with tho contributions of the insurance companies has a new subclause providing that reinsurance premiums shall be included in tho returns ou which the proportion of contributions to bo paid by the different companies is computed. A board may borrow money by way of bank draft or otherwise, and may, with tho consent of the Minister,_ mortgago its property as security, but its borrowings may not exceed half, of tho estimated expondituro for the current year. The clauso which vostcd firo prevention property hold otherwiso than by a local .authority iu the board is struck out. but u

now clauso is introduced to £ivo tho board power to purchaso or leaso real and personal property. It was previously provided that when mortgaged ]>roporty is vested in or transferred to a board, tho board shall become liable for the attendant charges. The clause, as now amended, directs that tho local authority shall mdommfy tho board against any such liability. Tho boards aro to bo allowed to chargo fees for fire oscape inspection. At fi.ro inquests tho boards may havo representatives with power to cross-examine witnesses. To givo a falso alarm of fire is an offence punishable by. a fine not. exceeding. £50; such fino to bo paid to the (ire board. The board may pay tho travelling expenses of members. A deputation representing tho Wellington Citv Council, with the Mayor of Dunedin, will wait upon tho Attorney-General (Hon. J)r. Findlay) in regard to tho'Fire Brigades Bill to-morrow (Friday) morning.