FIRE BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 7 August 1931, Page 4

FIRE BOARD

TO BE CONSIDERED BY CITY COUNCIL

A QUESTION, OF FINANCE A brief discussion on the subject of the establishment of a Fire Board in Nelson ensued at the City Council meeting last evening. The Mayor (Mr W. J. Moffatt) who introduced the matter, said it had been suggested that the Council should consider the question and ho thought that should be done at an early date. Recently he had inspected the fire station and found that it was not worth repairing. The question then arose as to making provision for another building and the only economical way of dealing with it was to have a Fire Board and make the insurance companies pay a portion of the cost. He understood that the Greymouth Fire Board cost the Council about £I2OO a year. A caretaker’s house was provided and the superintendent got only a moderate remuneration. He had been approached by several citizens who pointed out the necessity for having permanent men at the station, and one man had expressed the opinion that until proper provision for coping with lives was made the Employers’ Association might be willing 10 contribute towards the pavment of men at the station all day. Regarding the fire at the Mental Hospital recently the ting was given to the captain of the Brigade, who had to proceed from Brook street on a bicycle to the station, where he rung the buzzers and then took the engine to lire scene of the fire. Some lime was lost in consequence. Had the police station been first communicated with probably the warning would have been given sooner. Councillor Neale said he understood the police would not take the responsibility of giving the alarm. The Mayor then moved: “That consideration of the question of establishing a Fire Board be discussed at the next meeting of the Committee of the Whole Council.” .7

Councillor Huggins suggested that it would bo better to first call a meeting of representatives of the fire insurance, companies and the Fire Brigade to discuss the matter with the Council. ' The Mayor (referring to a vote re--cently taken by the Brigade on the, matter at the instance of the Council’s representative) said exception had been taken in some quarters to the Brigade being consulted at all. The station would have to be dealt with shortly. During the Fire Brigades’ Conference held at Nelson the city had been twitted wjtli having such a poor fire station. Councillor Gibbs: “We were twitted some years ago for not having trams.” Councillor Black, who seconded the motion, said information should be obtained as to the cost of Fire Boards in towns similar in size to Nelson. He iemarked that if a fire occurred during the day no firemen were on duty at the station. Representations should be made to the Police Commissioner asking that the police should ring, the buzzers as soon -.s warning was received. Councillor Washbourn remarked that the present was about the fourth occasion since he had sat on the Council that the matter had been brought up without any new matter being disclosed. It was just a matter of finance. Councillor Movnagh said. he would vote for anything “that will stop this perpetual bug bear nuisance of the Nelson Fire Board.” If a Fire Board was going to be cheaper, then let them have one. , ! . , Councillor Watson stated that permission of the ratepayers would have to be first obtained before a Board was set up. A new station would mean a loan. Councillor Gibbs said that before the matter was further dealt with all information as to the cost to the Council compared with other cities should be made available. The motion was then put and carried.