FIRE FIGHTING

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 118, 12 February 1926, Page 10

FIRE FIGHTING

proposal to set up board DECISION TO BE LEFT TO RATEPAYERS POSSIBLE SAVING OF £lO,OOO A YEAR “This is the only city in the whole of Australasia,” said the Mayor (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood) at last night s meeting of the City Council, “in winch the upkeep of. the Hire Brigade is paid for wholly bv the City Council. It the district were declared a Fire Board district, as he proposed, the clt Z be saved in the vicinity of £10,090, commencing from next year. Ihe city had paid over £99,000 that should have been paid by the underwriters. In constituting a Fire Board the control or the brigade would not be taken wholly out of" the council’s hands, as they would have half of the representation. He had visited various tire stations in New Zealand, and he had questioned members of the Wellington Brigade, and the conclusion he had come to was that the equipment of the Wellington stations was not the equivalent, of the equipment in stations under a Fife Board. It was necessary for the equipment to be brought up to ■ date, and that could only be done at a great cost. He asked the council to agree to his .motion, to submit the matter to the ratepayers, as being in the best interests of the city as a whole. Councillor M. F. Luckie said he was prepared to support the Maydr’s proposition. They must expect to have an increased rate. It was. impossible for them to • increase their revenue without increasing the rates. The efficiency of the brigade would not suffer under a fire board. If a board were formed the City Council would pay half the cost and the insurance, companics the other half. He considered the council would be better off by as much as £lO,OOO a year under a fire board. The fire board would comprise three members—one representing the city and the counties, one representing the insurance companies, and a Government nominee. The board could raise bv debentures what money it required for fire fighting. A good deal of the council’s fire-fighting appliances were superannuated; they had lagged behind. He had for some years opposed going under a board, but he .was satisfied now that it was the wirest course to pursue. Cr. W. H. Bennett lieirtily endorsed the motion. Councillor J. Burns wanted to know how the saving of £lO,OOO would be effected, as the cost of administration would be the same. 'The council, said the Mayor, in explanation, would receive 5 per cent, of the value of the brigade properties and eqpipment for 26 years from the underwriters. . . In reply to another question, the Mayor said that the present station properties would have to be handed over to the board, but would still remain public properties. Councillor Monteith supported'the motion, but considered they ought to go into the question more thoroughly. Councillor R. McKeen said that they would have to satisfy the ratepayers in the outlying areas that a fire board was going to benefit them. Councillor R. A. Wright said, that the suburban areas had been promised substations. He was confident that the Fire Board (although tinder no legal obligation) would carry out the council’s promises and ejxct those substations Insurances Would . not be raised as the Government Fire Insurance Department governed the rates m this city, and would not be a party to anv increases. Councillor G. A. Troup said that he was satisfied that the ratepayers’ interests would be conserved by setting •up a board. It was a wise move, which should have been taken long ago. Councillor R. Semple: .Would the poll veto the mandate given to the council in 1919 in connection with the promised sub-stations? ThezMayor: It would veto it. I agree that the obligation should be carried into effect. I believe it will be carried out under the Fire Board. Councillor Semple advised the sending Out of a statement from the council giving the public reasons why they should'vote for the proposal. Councillor M. F. Duckie saw no objection to this course being followed. This was decided upon and the motion bv the Mayor was carried unanimously.