FIRE CONTROL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4366, 8 December 1950, Page 9

FIRE CONTROL

BOROUGHS RESTRICTED ALTERING THE LAW I (HAURAKI CATCHMENT BOARD I Borough councils have no power to declare a closed fire season although under the provisions of the Forest and Rural Fires Act, 1947 county councils had that power. That information was given by Mr G. Davies, chief engineer to the Hauraki Catchment Board, at its November meeting. 1

Mr George Davies stated that at the invitation of the Thames Borough Council he, with the secretary of the board, had attended a ’meeting at Thames when Mr Girling Butcher, chairman of the Fire Services Council and Mr W. Boardman of the State Forest Service 'had met the fire committee of the borough council, the county clerk, Thames County Council and the catchment board, for the purpose of discussing a fire control scheme for Thames.

Mr Butcher informed the meeting that the borough council had no power to declare a closed fire season over the borough although under the provisions of the Fire Services. Act, 1949, the Thames Fire brigade was responsible for fighting fires. He advised that he would endeavour to get an amendment to the Fire Services Act, 194)9, at the ifext (Session of 'FJarliaanent giving borough councils similar powers to county councils under the Forest and Rural Fires Act, 1947. In the meantime he suggested that the Hauraki Catchment Board might redeclare a closed fire season over the part of the Thames borough concerned, and appoint the superintendent of the Thames Fire Brigade as fire officer. By such course of action the superintendent of the fire brigade would have full power to enforce the board’s fire control by-law over the borough .of Thames and 1 to deal with permits to burn and the impressing of labour to assist in fighting fires.

Mr Davies recommended that the board adopt the suggestion by declaring a further closed fire season over part of the Thames borough for the period commencing December 1, 1950, and.. terminating on November 30, 1'951, appointing the superintendent of the Thames Fire Brigade, fire officer for this area.

A resolution was accordingly carried by the meeting.