Fire Control Board

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 97, 27 April 1938, Page 2

Fire Control Board

TENDER FOR SIREN ACCEPTED The quarterly meeting of the Pahiatua Fire Board was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Friday, there being present Messrs. A. W. White, V. M. Edgar, K. Mason, W. A. Carthew, J. W. Sturton and Superintendent Law r ry. Mr. Edgar reported that the Conciliation Court had not dealt finally with the lire brigades dispute, although he had hoped to bo able to announce tho result at the meeting. He did not believe, however, that the auxiliary firemen w r ould be dragged into the aw r ard by reason of which they should be able to get through on the estimates allowed for. Mr. Edgar pointed out that in the event of a fine water supply being obtained in the near future, that the brigade would require to have permanent men at the station, saying that the whole question was dependent on having men at the station to answer a call. Superintendent Lawry intimated thal, he had no men in view but thought there would not be any difficutly in securing suitable men. On the motion of Messrs. Edgar and Mason the quotation of the Tararua Electric Power Board for installing the fire alarm system in Pahiatua was accepted, the local executive being empowered to deal with any extra expenditure involved in giving effect to the additional allocation of fire boxes. Mr. Edgar suggested that the whole cost be included in this year’s estimates and paid for by the contributing bodies out of this year’s estimates, thus obviating raising a loan. Mr. Carthew advised proceeding cautiously, wauting to know what the whole undertaking giving effect to the subsequent proposals, was going to cose. Mr. Edgar pointed out that they had £7O allowed for last year and a balance of £125, considering that the total cost would be about £330.

Neither Messrs. Mason nor Edgar thought it wah going to cost much to do the extra work.

Mr. Sturton thought it would be cheaper to do the work all at once. The chairman pointed out that some of the ratepayers would be dissatisfied [if they had no alarm system.

Mr. Mason: They would have some right on their side, too. The suggestion was agreed to. Mr. Edgar thought the board was very fortunate in having the money to be able to do the job. The secretary in reply said that in Mr. Parton’s time a special fund had been built up for the express purpose. Mr. Edgar: Well, we have the pleasure of being able to spend it. The secretary was authorised to enter into an agreement with the Tararua Electric Power Board for the maintenance of the siren system.

Mr. Edgar suggested testing out the siren once every week and the superintendent was recommended to do so every Saturday at 12 o’clock. The board agreed to have notice of this advertised in order to let the people know there was no fire.

The estimates which were gone into, amended and finally approved, allowed for an expenditure of £995, this involving an extra contribution 'of £l7l by the two contributing bodies. Messrs. Sturton, Edgar, Carthew and Mason paid a tribute to the work of the chairman during the last year, expressing the hope that the Government in their wisdom would nominate him as their representative in the next term.