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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3130, 9 July 1881, Page 2

The Fire Prevention and the Fire Brigades Bill is the first slaughtered innocent of the session. The bill, a synopsis of which has already been published by us, had successfully passed its second reading, and last night was considered in committee. The first sixteen

clauses were passed, but clause 17 was struck out. This clause related to the contribution of insurance companies towards the maintenance of fire brigades, and contained a vital principle of the bill. Tne clause read as follows :—lnsurance companies insuring from fire aDy property in any city or 'borough shall collectively pay pro rata annually to the Council, by way of contribution towards the expenses of carrying this Act into eiTeet, a sum not exceeding one-third of the entire cost incurred by the Council for fire prevention purposes during the year, for fire prevention : Provided that tbe payment to be so made by the fire insurance companies, collectively os aforesaid, shall not exceed a rate of one-and-a-half per centum of the premiums received in respect of property in the city or borough during the year, less the amount of all reinsurances paid to them to other fire insurance companies carrying on business in the colony of New Zealand, in respect of such property on which such premiums have been received : And provided further that such fire brigades, engines, material, and appliances shall be provided and kept ia a thoroughly efficient and serviceable condition. On the above clause being stiuck out the bill was abandoned.