FIRE BRIGADES.

Evening Star, Issue 12928, 26 September 1906, Page 8

FIRE BRIGADES.

♦ THE GOVERNMENT BILL. [FaoM.Otrp. Parlumentaey Kitobtbk.] WELLINGTON, September 25. When the Fixe Brigades Bill came before ae Legislative Council this afternoon the ton. H. F. Wigram) further criticised the leasure. He said th.it no demand had een mad© by the four centres to have tlte c>ntrol of their brigades handed over to a oard. Their request simply was that they bould get more money. The Bill was pposed by tho Municipal Conference. He iiaintained thai the brigades would be one off under the Bill than they were at resent. In the case of Christchurch the lunicipality employed 150 men, and of bese sixty were attached to the fire briade. Only ten, however, received full pay. I he rest, he understood, got £lB per year. lorses used in drawing water carts were lso available for the use of the brigade, to moved as an amendment—" That the Bill hould be referred to a special committee, nd that tb«> brigades should be associated nder section 60 of the Municipal Corporaions Act." The Attorney-General hoped' that the Joimcil woald not agree to the proposal, weause if it was carried it simply meant hat the Bill would bo remodelled in such .way that it would not be accepted by the jower House, and' thus the measure would » killed. The Hon. Mr Pitt affirmed that he Bill was a good one. Under it the brigades would have more funds at tbeir di»r (osal, and they would be able to get more ip-to-date plant. If the Bill were sent to committee it would have very little chance jf passing this session. He did not say he Bill was a perfect measure, but the (rinciple was right. 'The Hons. Baldey and Trask opposed the intendment to refer the Bill to a special jjwnmittee. : The Hon. George Jones considered the iUl'had nothing whatever to recommend it. T,he Hon. J. E. Jenkinson had no objecidn.to referring the Bill to a committee. The Hon. S. T. George approved of the ariendment. He realised that the Bill was jqujg to become law, but several-reasonable Amendments were required. The amendment was defeated by 13 votes o>6,"and, tlie Bill was committed. -The Hon. J. & Jenkinson moved an intendment to clause 2 to the effect that /he .Bill should apply to all parts of the »lony, and that it should not be brougnt, nto force in any town or borough until a ecruisition from the ratepayers of such a.srict had been placed in the hands of the lovemment.. motion was lost on the atd tirovress waa afterwardg reported. ■it'.:,-. ""