FIRE BOARDS,

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 149, 20 December 1907, Page 8

FIRE BOARDS,

THE STATUTORY OPTION. WELLINGTON COUNCIL TO DECIDE NEXT MONTH. A brief reference was made at last night's meeting of the Wellington Uity Council to the question of whether the council would retain control of the municipal fire brigade or approve the setting up of a fire board, consisting of a, City Council representative, a fire insurance representative, and a Government representative. The Mayor intimated that at the last meeting of the Finance Committee he suggested to the chairman of that committee that he should bring down a/report to the next meeting 01 the council, dealing -with the whole matter in a comprehensive way. This the chairman had I undertaken to do. Councillor Ballinger askedi if the question would come up for decision at the meeting on the 16th January, and the Mayor replied that he thought not. Councillor Godber : At the meeting on 30th January, no doubt? . ° The Major: I daresay. TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL. ' ■ ■*jj — — mr m'cullough welcomed. The weekly meeting of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council ' was held in the Trades Hall last night. Mr. A. Parlane, president, was in the chair, and there were about forty delegates present. Mr. J. A. M'Culiough, the newlyelected workers' representative on the Arbitration Court, was present and was ac:orded a hearty welcome. In responding to the welcome, Mr. M'Culiough said he appreciated the standing invitation of the council to attend its meetings- He complimented the unions in the Wellington Industrial district on their loyalty to the Dunedin conference's .nomination of himself as the worker's representative on the court. It was a splendid instance of the gradual solidification of organised labour throughout the Dominion. He would endeavour to repay the confidence placed in him while on the court, and particularly wished it to be known that he was very desirious of getting in touch with the individual requirements and labour aspects of the difierent unions of the colony. Mr. Long, of the Auckland Trades Council, and Mr. Kellet, of the Otago Council were also present, and received the welcome of the council. In replying, both those gentlemen eulogised the activity of the Wellington Council and congratulated Mr, M'Culiough on his appointment. ' The Labour Department's administration of the Shops and Offices Act was again adversely commented upon by several delegates. It seemed, said one speaker, "that the department had a penchant for warning delinquent employers, and was absolutely afraid to take definite action when certain employers committed breaches. Another delegate, just returned from the country districts, declared that in those parts the Act was a "dead-letter." Eventually a. resolution was carried drawing the Minister's attention to the matter and instructing tho Parliamentary Committee of the council to deal further with the alleged breaches.