THE FIRE BRIGADE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 477, 8 April 1909, Page 7

THE FIRE BRIGADE.

CITY OR BOARD CONTROL? STRONG REMARKS BY THE MAYOR. Upon tho request of several councillors tho Fire Brigades' Committee submitted to tho City Council Inst night a statement of the. saving which would be made by the Corporation if tho Firo Brigade were placed under the control of a fire board. The figures showed that, if .'£Booo were expended' per annum, the Government subsidy under a board would be £400 the amount to bo paid by insurance companies would :bo £3800, and by tho council £3800. The property and plant to be taken over by the say, £40,000, to bo paid for in 26 annual instalments, equal to 6 per cent., would, be £2000. If that amount were deducted, from the contribution payable by tho city, it would leave tho council's share at £1800 per annum for the next 26 years, or an annual saving of £6200. After that time had elapsed the saving would bo £4200. If the sum required to be expended on tho brigade- was £7000, the city would .save £57.00! por annum for 26 years, and £3700 . yearly afterwards. If the total for upkeep ■were ii only £6000, the council would save £6200' per annum for the 26 years, and £320Qv yearly subsequently.. The figures, if the amount to bo expended waa £5000, vrolUd be £4700 and £2700 respectively. Tho.. Mayor expressed the hope that, long beforcj. ■ there was a change of control there, would bo a more enlightened pclicvv in vogue. Such a question should not, lie affected ■by sordid matters. A proposal, 'which efforts to seciiro reformation or alteratio.v in the'constitution of local'bodies was by a bribe, in the shape of payment of money from ono branah.of the public service t>. , aiiothe,- ■ branch, was a diabolical one. If tho Govcrnmentl should pay £400 per year, that amount should be paid now. Dr. Findlay had informed a deputation that thero was no proper reason why the money should not be contributed. If the insurance companies wore ..called upon to share tho cost of upkeep of the brigade, they would put the tax on thqso who were prudent enough to insure their, property. Uppfl the suggestion of Councillor M'Laron it was*agreed that the report should stand over.. .■,»'• ■'! Subsequently Councillor Ballin<rer moved in accordance with notice as under:— ThaJ; ,the council tako steps under the provisions of The Fire Brigades Act; 1908, and its amendments, to apply to the Governor for an Ordor-in-Council, declaring: the City of Wellington to be a fire district, under Tho Fire brigades Act, aod that the necessary poll of 'tho ratepayers of tho city. in connection therewith be taken on the same day as the coming election' of councillors 'is hold. '■>!• • •■! In putting forward his proposal, Councillor Ballinger.>stated that he was very anxious that the matter should go before the ratepayers, a Councillor' M'Laron: Others besides the ratepayers were.interested. Resuming,, Councillor Ballinger stated that tho amount ; which would be saved if tho change waseciuivalent to a loan. Ho was quitejprepared to admit that the rntes would bo increased, but that- would happen whether the brigade was under the control of tho council on, the board. Councillor CJahen seconded the motion. The Mayor held tliat the o.uestion was not being put to the ratepayers fairly. If the question were whiifji was tho better form of control, ha would inot object. The Question was not free from an unfortunate element affecting tho choice, 'viz., monetary benefit. When, monetary matters weregintroduced in such a question it had always been disastrous to the proper government bf the place. If tlio proposal were to ask the ratepayers whie'li form of controKtiley preferred ho would agrte to it at once. If'.was decidedly wrong to siy to the .ratepayers 'that if there, was a change of control ratepayers would bo able to put their hands in other people's.Dockets to sa've their 'own. ' ' . . ■ : •*'• Councillor M.'Lai'en did not consider it : a democratic proposal. Tho indirect ratepayers would not be 'consulted, and only a portion would have a voice, in (lecitlinj tho question. It was not ;an honest referendum. J

Councillor. Luke opposed the proposal.- To bo consistent in their arguments, ho.,held that the promoters) should tho haiding 'over the of,-the tramways nnd'ivaicr supply to- boards of management. Councillor Fletcher was also in opposition. Councillor Fisher, moved, 'and Cdnncillor Godber, sqcondod, that the second parb of tho motion-be .altered "That thoiGoveniment r bo asked for, an annual oqntjiibution towar-'ds.the maintenance and upkee/p of the Wellington Fire Brigade." —: The amendment was carried by 7 to 6, tho Mayor, Councillors Fisher, Fletcher, Godber, Hales, Luke, and MTiaran voting ftJr it, and Councillors IJallinirer, Biss, Carmichael. >.ohen, Shirtcliffo, and Smith opposing.