FIRE BRIGADES' CONTROL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1907, Page 8

FIRE BRIGADES' CONTROL.

THE NEW CONDITION OF THINGS. REGULATIONS BEING FRAMED. One of the measures particularly affecting municipalities is the Fire Brigades Act, which, after having been before Parliament for several years, was I passed last session. The Act will come J into force in May next, and already its future operation is being discussed with j some interest. This morning a Post reporter called on the Attorney-General (the Hon. Dr. Findlay), and asked him to explain what is being done in regard to the Act. "I am having regulations, which are a very i important part of the Act, framed at the present time," Dr. Findlay said. " After the draft copy has reached me, I propose having the regulations submitted to one or two experts, such as Superinten- j dent Hugo, of the local brigade. While, that is being done, we will considpr the i ' question of appointing members of. the Fire Boards for each district. The Act • provides that there is to be a fire district for each of the cities of Auckland, WelI lir»e tol1 * Gkri=fccJznrc!», smd I>Ul>rdin, and for any other place that may be declared by the Governor-in-Couneil to be a fire district. Each board is to consist i of seven members — one appointed by the •Government, three by the insurance companies, and three by the local authority for the district. " The Act," Dr. Findlay continued, " marks a cardinal change in the control of fire brigades in this colony. By >sec-i tion 31 the brigades pass under the control of the new boards, with all land and plant. The price to be paid for the plant is to be agreed to between the board and the municipality concerned, : and if an amicable arrangement cannot j be arrived at the amount is to be set-^ tied by arbitration." I HOW IS THE COST TO BE APPORTIONED. This (statement led to some enquiry about the financial aspect of the new order of things. The Act stipulates that payment for plant acquired by the board may- be extended over a period of ten J yea're, but there is nothing definite in the Act saying in what proportion the capital cost of such plant is to be borne by the Government, the insurance companies, and the city itsslf. On or before the 30th of June in 'every year the bonrd will have to submit to *tho Minister for his approval an estimate of the probable expenditure necessary for the administration of the Act in its district for the following year, and, when approved, the amount j will be paid, in the following proportion : ! — The Government will contribute a share based on the assumption that ils property 1 in the district is subject to the payment 'of rotes; the remainder will be contri- [ buted in equal proportions by the insurance companies insuring property within I the fiTst district, and by tb? local authority. The amount payable by each insurance company will be pro rata to its gross premium receipts for the previous year. Now the question arises as to whether the insurance companies are to immediately become liable for their share of the plant which will shortly become S partially vested in their representatives, or whether their obligations simply expend to the annual expenditure necessary for the -upkeep of the brigade in the proportion laid down in. the Act. Asked far his opinion on this point, Dr. Findlay said the question involved consideration of the proper construction of some general sections of the Act which he was nofc at present prepared to discuss. SUPERINTENDENT HUGO'S OPINION. Our reporter 'also called on Superintendent Hugo, who said the administration of the brigades under th/» new Act should be very successful. In all the Australian States a similar measure was in operation, and everything worked smoothly. "Tho Act," he said* "is evidently already bearing fruit. A poll of ratepayers taken at Hawera recently decided in favour of coming under the Act. In my opinion, the measure will be distinctly for the good of tho brigades and the cities." Superintendent Hugo was also questioned by our reporter on the point brought under Dr. Findlay's notice, as to the payment by the board for existing plant. He argued that the capital value of all plant becomes a direct charge on tho board as soon as it is acquired,- and as it is to be paid for inside ten years tho piocees of wiping out the debt must be by way of an annual charge on tho estimates of theboard's expenditure, and strictly in accordance with tho proportion laid down in the Act. In other words he contend that both tho Government and the insurance companies are partly liable for Uie cost of all plant which will j be acquired by the boards. The point is an important one, particularly in the cases of thoso cities which possess large and valuable plant. Under the Act the boards are not furnished with borrowing powers, and as it is represented that this may detrimentally retard, say, building operations or the erection of new stations, Superintendent Hugo said some attempt would in all likelihood bo made to secure an amendment to the Act, giving the boards borrowing powers. Superintendent Hugo thinks tho appointment of inspectors under the Act will have a very beneficial effect on tho efficiency of brigades.

We have to acknowledge the following additional subscriptions in aid of Mre. Alderslade: — Amount already acknowledged, £64 7s; Tops and Rex, Sympathy, Mac,. J.K., 2s 6d each ; employees of the Defence Stores, Wellington, 30»; C.5.0., 12a ; bookbinding depart of Govi eminent Printing Office 20s ; lire. Herbert, Boulcott-street, £2 2s; F.W.M., 6s; officers of the Public Works Department, £2 ; a Sympathiser, 7e 6d ; E.P., £1 ; employees of W. Dimock and Co. , Waterloo-quay, £1 15; Willie, 2s; A.E.H., 5»; collected by Mrs. Caaey from some girk of the filling department, R. Bell and Sons, £2 2s ; Judah Myen, 10s 6d ; total, £78 Ba. There will be a reception of guests at the Mussioni to Seamen to-night, on the occasion of the visit of the General Supormtendent /the B*s^ c^ K. .Wilson).