FIRE BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14432, 24 July 1907, Page 5

FIRE BOARD.

TEE OHRISTCHURCH BRIGADE. THE QUESTION OF CONTROL. A meeting of the Christchurch. Firo Board was held la&t evening; present — Messrs J. D. Hall (chairman), 11. B. Soreusen, H. R. Ruebridge, C. Allison, J. F. Grierson, W. D. Moaies and C. J. Cooper. The chairman, in his statement, stated that the City Council contended that as tho Board had been duly appointed and. had formulated estimates for the year commencing on July 1; the control of the brigade- anuet from that date lie witn. "the Board, and that the property occupied by the brigade and the plant and appliances used by it had been vested in the Board. An arrangement had been made by which the Council retained control temporarily, the Board to refund the expenses incurred by the Council, if the Board was empowered to levy contributions in respect to the period in question. The position was hardly satisfactory to the city, and it did not seem to be conducive to the efficient management and control of the brigade. Some of the engines had been moved from the Sydenham and St Albans stations, and complaints had been made that there was now no efficient plant at the former station. It, therefore, appeared to be necessary that the Board should either disclaim all responsibility in regard to control of the brigade, or endeavour to make some arrangements with regard to the finances which would enable it to assume oontrol and accept responsibility, A letter had been read from the City Council offering to advance a sum of £250 for current expenses in maintaining the brigade, if the insurance companies would advance a similar amount; and presumably tiuch amounts were to be credited to the respective parties as payments on account of the first contributions that might become due by them. The Board would have to consider whether that was a satisfactory solution of the problem, and then to ascertain whether the insurance companies ware prepared to advance a similar amount. Returns had been received from twenty-four insurance companies, which had been deposited, unopened, in 3ris office, and arrangements must be .made for dealing with them. No precise information was available a« to the proposed conference of the Boards in Wellington or as to the date when the suggested amendments to the Fire Brigades Act would come before the committee of the House.

Mr Grierson moved l that the Board regretted that it could not accept the Council's offer of £250, as it could not take over the Brigade and plant until the Minister had approved, of the estimates, in accordance with Section 10 of the Act.

Mr Cooper seconded the motion, which was carried.

It was decided, on the suggestion of the chairman, that the secretary should write to tae Colonial Seoretary, stating that the City Council had been divested of the control, of the fire brigade property and plant, and the Board could not accept responsibility until it was empowered to levy contributions. The deadlock exposed the livee and properties of citizens to danger, and the Board asked the Minister to expedite consideration of the amending Bill, and to announce bis approval of the estimates.

It was suggested that the Government, as an alternative, should be asked to advance funds to enable the Board to take over control, but that suggestion was not adopted. The National Mortgage 1 and. Agency Company, Messrs G. G. Stead and Co., Messrs Wood Bros, and the Canterbury Seed Company wrote stating that they would be glad to make tho same agreement with, the Board a 6 they had with the City Council, in regard to the brigade going to their assistance in case of fires on their premises, outside the city boundaries. It was agreed that the letters should be referred to the City Council. The superintendent of the brigade reported that fires had been attended on July 9 and 17. He explained that the annual inspection of fire-engine boilers had taken place early in the month, when the engines had been put into the repair-shop, stripped, inspected, tested, and passed by the Government inspector as being sound and good for'the nest twelve months. While the engines were being tested, the usual plan was adopted to secure a steam-engine for the city. That necessitated bringing in the St Albans steamer and placing the Sydenham chemical at St Albans, and temporarily sending the manual engine to Sydenham. He had been induced to take that precaution because in the past four serious fires had taken flace while one of the steamers had een. laid up for inspection.