A FIRE BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 37, 12 February 1926, Page 9

A FIRE BOARD

ANNUAL SAVING OF

£10,000

COUNCIL CONSIDERS IT

ADVISABLE

ELECTORS TO DECIDE.

The City Council last evening discussed for the best part of an hour the advisability of the adoption of the Fire Board system of control of brigades for Wellington, in place of the present system of purely municipal control and payment of the full cost of the brigade system. It was unanimonsly decided that the question should be placed before the ratepayers of the city, as is required by the Act, for their approval. Particular stress was laid by speakers upon the annual saving which would bo effected to the city under the Fire Board system.

. It was necessary, if something like £10,000 was to be saved the ratepayers of the city next year , said the Mayor (Mr. C. B. Norwood) that the matter should be 'considered without delay. The council had decided for a Fire Board in 1908, bnt had not gone en -with the policy. Had there been a Fire Bgard the saving to the city since 1908 ■would have been approximately £100,000 5 in. other words, the city had contributed £100,000 towards the maintenance of its, fire brigades, which ihonld have been contributed by the --- underwriters. Under the Fire Board system half the annual cost would be paid by the city and half by the underwriters, the Government contributing £400 per annum. The city would have one half representation upon the board, the underwriters half, and the Government would appoint an independent member. ; . LAST AND LONELIEST. , **This is the only city of any size in New Zealand or Australia which bears the whole eoet of maintaining its brigade," B&id Mr. Norwood, "I have visited stations at Auckland, Dunedin, Christen urch, and. Wanganui, and I have questioned onr own men, and they frankly admit that our equipment is not. as up to date as that of a Fire Board station. If the council continues to control the city brigades it most find an additional amount to bring its eqnipmnt to a thoroughly up-to-date condition." SUBURBAN STATIONS. There was perhaps a moral obligation upon the council to place branch stations at various points, but if the council built those stations and the Fire Board did not think that they were necessary, there was nothing in the law to require the board ia take them over. However, ha could, in that regard, mention the ciis-j of Castleliff, "Wanganui; it was a sin nil area of a smaller town, bnt there., the Fire Board had seen fit to erect and equip a thoroughly up-to-date station. "I have not a doubt in the world," continued Mr. Norwood, "that the representatives of the underwriters will see that fire fighting quipment will be sound. They are business men;'you need have no fear about brigade efficiency." The total assets, land, building, and brigade equipment were valued, on a conservative estimate, aY £80,000, probably the value was £100,000. The city would beceive repayments of that value in 26 instalments of 5 per cent., but the property Would remain public 'property. _'•'■ "^ ,\ ._,'. . v .. A TOWH-PLANNINO; OONSIDEBA,TION. "The only reservation I would wish to make," concluded Mr. Norwood, "is that before any final arrangement is reached, we might change the site of the Central Station. From a city planning point of view we should have gome control of a property so placed, opposite the Town Hall, and an arrangement might be come to whereby the council, by paying the cost of the removal to another site, could at any time reclaim trie council property, i That does not, however, interfere with the general policy." UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST COUBSE. ,: . ' Councillor Luckie, chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee, seconded the resolution. He agreed that the only course was for the council to advise the handing over of fire brigades's control to a Fire Board. He had interviewed the Inspector of Fire Brigades, who had advised that the best course was undoubtedly to adopt the principle of a Fire Board. He had also interviewed the executive of the Fire Underwriters' Association, and had asked them, to give any reasons why the city should -not adopt' the Fire Board. The most they could say in reply was that it was-possible that in that event certain reductions which they had in contemplation might not be given effect to. Certainly no suggestion was made that the efficiency of the brigade trould be in any degree reduced. The annual general expenditure on the brigades last year was approximately £16,000, to which was to". be added 5 per cent on £80,000, say £4000, making a total of £20,000. In place of an« expenditure of £16,000, the council would be called upon to pay one-half only, and it would receive, moreover, the payment of 5 per cent. Upon £80,000 from the Fire Board. / , In the event of the city wishing to Return to the present system, said Councillor Luckie,' in reply to Councillor Monteith, the position would be precisely reversed, and the council would repay the value of land, building, and equipment to the board on* the same basis. The council, he remarked, wbb merely considering a resolution that a poll should be taken, for the final decision would rest with the electors. Under a Fire Board system there would be overseeing the work of the brigades ah officer who was not a member of the brigade, and who would be fully 'qualified to criticise and advise, and would not hesitate to do so, and there need be no hesitation on the ground of a possible falling away in efficiency. "I am quite satisfied that this council would be well advised to tako advantage of the Act, as, has every other city in New Zealand and Australia." ...Councillor W. H. Bennett said that he was very glad to hear of Councillor Luckie's "conversion"; but for his Strong objection to the proposal in the past Wellington would have had a Fire Board ten or twelve years ago. He

■was extremely pleased that the council

had now decided to.come to its senses.

OBLIGATION TO THE ST7BUKBB. Councillor B. G. H. Bum maintained that the suburban stations authorised by the ratepayers in 1920 should be erected and equipped before, any charge Was made, for the position would be, if that were not done, that people in those areas would be rated more heavily becauso there wore no fiTe-fighting appliances in their areas, as was the case in the Constable street area before that station was built. The council wag assured that the plans for"the suburban stations were well a^ead, but for his part he was not'so sure tnat those plans had over been started. The council must carry out its obligations to suburban ratepayers before a change was made. Councillors Monteith and M'Kcen

protested that insufficient information had been given the council. They were agreed that the question should go to the electors, but maintained that the carrying or otherwise of the proposal at the poll must depend very largely upon the attitude of councillors, who should be able to present a united front. THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE AND BATES. In answer to the suggestions made that insurance companies would possibly increase their rates, the Mayor said the Government office really fixed the insurance rate, and there was no probability whatever that the Govern^ ment's insurance rates would be advanced! Councillor Wright expressed the opinion that suburban areas need have no cause to fear that they would be neglected in any degree under a Fire Board. He did not think that the underwriters would be at all likely to increase the rates. The proposal was also supported by Councillor Troup. There was no likelihood of the underwriters raising the insurance rates, for, as the Mayor had said, the Government office practically fixed the rate. To keep faith with those suburbs which were to be 'given fire stations, under the 1920 loan, said Councillor Huggins, the council shonld raise the money authorised, and hand it over to the Fire Board. Councillor Semple spoke of the same matter. Would the handing over <p£ the control to a Fire Board veto the obligation upon the council to erect stations in suburban areasf The resolution was adopted on the voices. In accord with a suggestion from Councillor Semple,' it was agreed that a definite and comprehensive statement should be prepared, setting out th« reasons why electors should support the proposal.