FIRE BRIGADES BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2222, 28 October 1907, Page 1

FIRE BRIGADES BILL.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. Special to Times. WELLINGTON, October 26. The Fire Brigades Bill was reported to tile Legislative Council yesterday by the Joint Statutes ltevission Committee. Severel amendments liavo been made on the lines indicated by the Attorney-General in his reply to the last week’s deputation. Clause 7, relating to the dissolution of Fire Districts, has been amended by adding a provision that in such case the contributing local autlioriy shall repay to the insurance companies carrying on business in the district such sum at the Governor determines just and equitable, having a regard for the property vested, in the Fire Board; also the contribution made by the companies towards the acquisition thereof. In the first place clause 38 gave tlio Fire' Boards power to dispose of property vested in them. The Committee lias amended this clause by making the disposition of any land or buildings, or tho leasing, mortgaging, etc., of same, subject to the consent of the Minister, and no lands or buildings which have become vested in the Board are to bo sold, leased, mortgaged, or othenviso dealt with without the consent- of the local authority from which such property is obtained.. Further the Minister or local authority m consenting to such a transaction is empowered to impose conditions as to the manner in which any moneys so obtained by the Board shall bo exnended for fire prevention purposes. Sub-section 4, of clause 29 has been altered to read as follows: The Fire Boards shall pay to the local authority which owned the property, the capital value (with interest) by 26 annual instalments equal to 5 per cent of the capital value. The remainder of the amendments aie of an unimportant cliai actei.