A SURPRISING BILL

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 270, 20 August 1925, Page 8

A SURPRISING BILL

CHARGE FOR SUPPRESSION OF FIRE One of the most surprising accounts yet rendered to the Education Board astonished and amused the members at yesterday’s meeting. This was an account from the fire brigade for the suppression of the recent fire at the Clyde Quay infant school. The account was as follows:—

The chairman (Mr. T. Forsyth) remarked that the rendering of an account for fire suppression was a new order of things to him, and that it seemed as though the new City Council was looking for queer means of bucking up the revenue of the city. He could not say why such an account should be rendered to the board. It was decided to refer the matter back to the town clerk far an explanation. On being asked whether a new policy had been adopted by the council in the direction indicated by the account, Councillor M. F. Luckie (chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee) _ said he knew nothing of such a practice, and could not understand it. The only thing he could think of was that there might be an arrangement between the brigade and bodies who did not pay rates, to charge for services. An inquiry was made at the board’s office after the meeting as to whether such an arrangement or agreement existed, and the answer was in the negative. There had been plenty of fires in schools in the district, it was stated, but this was the first time in the history of the board that they had been charged for the suppression of a fire.

£ s. d. Snnerintendpnt 220 Deputy superintendent 1 1 0 Two sub-officers, 10s. 6d. each 1 1 0 Ten men at 3s. each 1 10 0 Use of plant, 2 2 0 £7 16 0