FIRE BRIGADES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 82, 4 October 1944, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADES

SYSTEM OF CONTROL

CONFERENCE DECISIONS

! The conference of: the- United Tir« . Brigades' Association yesterday disl cussed' the draft Government proposals . for a re-organisation of the system of - nre-fighting control, and decided that with certain modifications >■• it should be the basis for the conference .which is to be held between interested parties, • contingent however, "on the U.F.B.A. 1 remaining the paramount body in all - fire brigade negotiations.; .- :.' } Conditions laid down by the Governi ment for the supply of this equipt ment were that arrangements be made i for the appliance, with a crew of six i men, .to be made available. both for ■ emergency purposes and for'operation i at serious fires, whether inside o^ outs' side the municipal district '(the runr ning costs of the appliance.'and-fire i pay of the crew to be paid for by the ■ local authority, person, or firm making s the call); that fire brigade equipment be standardised to enable brigades to i operate effectively : together (2|iri 1 instantaneous couplings would be supi plied where necessary .from Govern- ! ment stocks); and that a reasonable i standard of efficiency be ensured, ens forceable by arbitration if: necessary, i Proposals under a modified scheme • submitted to the conference for its con- : sideration were that the control of each brigade would be in the hands of the fire committee or local borough : council or town board, with similar powers to those of a fire board. The Government would-- contribute an amount based on the value of Government property in the district and the remainder of • the expenditure 7 would be contributed in equal pro--portions by the local authority and the insurance companies/ A central fire- ' council .would be established, not to , have any powers of control, but mere!y the power of challenging the local authority on any matter air'ecting the efficiency of the fire protection service. It was proposed that no further fire boards be formed and that the scheme apply to all boroughs or town boards which were not already fire' districts arid, which had a reticulated water supply and an efficient brigade. If the Government proposed to replace any of the existing fire boards by the local authority under this scheme, it was considered that the existing fire boards should be retained at least in towns exceeding 5000 in population. It would be made a condition of acceptance by the association that the subsidies at present paid by the underwriters and the Government be continued. POWERS OF CENTRAL COUNCIL. The powers of the central council would, under this amended scheme, be limited to making representations to the controlling local authority and tne matters in dispute would, if necessary, be submitted to" arbitration. Except for this provision, the local authority would retain full' control, lhe scheme also provided for contributions amounting to more than half the total cost being paid by the insurance companies and the Government in districts which-at present obtained no assistance from either. Vhis would be done without taking the control, out of the hands of the local body, as would result if a fire board were formed under the existing Fire Brigades Act. Following consideration of this pn™£ ,lt-. was deci<ied by the conference that, its acceptance be - contingent + J pa^clPation °* all brigtdes a5? * te£ Wlth the U-F-B-A. It was decided that the control of each fire • brigade not at present under a fire board should be in the'hands of tK fire committee of the local governing authority. However, it was alreedS 2S?SS ?• th, at f lause s*ould Prevent y +^ e£ rigale.from takin S advantage of the Fire Brigades Act and goin? under fire board control. : AnSthef ■decision reached was that the'fije com! - mittee should consist of not lesi ffi three members appointed by" the local though! ??*"£*• -one °*' VhSS should be the officer in charge of the & de '- S* B P^viso that gthe Mm SM gfat direct that in th* casfSf small towns, one, and in larger, town * two, representatives of the insurance companies be co-opted. It wa? agreed ah u m h%Ce^ ral c°uncil sh<S ft rei quired to give consideration to any matters affecting, the brigade orST ' ffiSS' & ough' forward Iftoer bf n a " bvttp6^o^ll % *** committeef 0 ? oy tne fire committee itself. •"- ,

"Is it correct that an agreement i« being drawn up providing for all en£ ployees at the Westport-Stoekton otSS! th?™- 1 wo T r T k ngs to be .member? lt l ne Mi nf£ s Union?" asked Mr/R G Gerard (National, Mid-Canterbuiy) ft a notice of question to the FrinS Minister m the House of Represent- . I tives yesterday. Mr. Gerard also in- ! quired wny if that were the .position, the information had not been given to lprlv,?™—last '^Hrsday when- the ~ i Prime Minister explained that a-gatis- - factory arrangement had been -reached^ <~ with union representatives -over: the •-" -'- status of the contractor,: Mr. Downer^'-:^v