FIRE PROTECTION

Evening Star, Issue 21994, 2 April 1935, Page 13

FIRE PROTECTION

CONTRIBUTION OF ST. HILDA BOROUGH DISCUSSION AT COUNCIL MEETING The St. Kilda Borough Council last night received a letter from the Minister of Internal Affairs (Sir Alexander Young) in relation to the proposed formation of, a united fire district, stating that afteif- raising no objection to the scheme the council had appeared to change its viewpoint. The writer stated that the question of a metropolitan fire board bad to be considered with due regard to the position of the other local authorities concerned. The_ Green Island Borough Council, which was much less favourably situated than the St. Kilda Borough, had made strong representations in favour of the proposal. The figures previously supplied showed that the council’s cost would be very little higher than under the existing agreement, while the amount contributed by the combined local authorities would be less than at present. Tito St. Kilda Borough received a degree of fire protection equal to that of any portion of the city, and it therefore was reasonable that the council should be required to make payment on the same basis as the city ratepayers. The mayor (Mr A. D. Edgar) said the council was now paying £550 till September 30, when the agreement would expire, and under the new scheme it would have to pay £54 more, plus a portion of the underwriters’ contribution for the fire protection of St. Kilda. The service which would be received would, however, be no greater. Ho considered that there was no option but to take a poll of the ratepayers to seo if they were in favour of the scheme. If the poll were not carried he failed to see what would bo the remedy. Cr Lqngworth said they would not be getting fire protection cheaply by any means. The borough of Mosgiel, which was nine miles out, was prepared to come into the scheme, and it appeared that the St. Kilda Borough would have to pay for portion of its fire protection. The council was going to be ho better off. Cr Anderson stated that lie thought they ought to apply to the Minister ot Internal Affairs for his consent to allowing the present agreement, which hod three and a-half years to run, to continue. He moved to that effect. The mayor said that the Minister had already stated that no agreement would hold after September 30. Tho town clerk said that a revaluation of the borough would probably result in a 25 to 30 per cent, reduction, and the £604 would be reduced accordingly, as the scheme was based on capita! value. He was satisfied that the council had everything to gain and nothing to lose by linking up with the scheme. After further discussion it was decided to hold tho matter over till'a

later da'te, the mayor to Communicate with the Minister of Internal Affairs asking if he would consent to the extension of the present term to the end of the three years.