THE FIRE BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6311, 11 September 1907, Page 5

THE FIRE BOARD.

ANOTHER HITCH. WHAT SHALL THE GOVERNMENT PAY? The estimates of expenditure required to be provided for by the Wellington Fire Board for the year amount to £7OOO- A hitch has occurred in the matter of assessing the contributions to be paid. The Government is supposed to pay, as if paying rates, on all Government buildings in the city: This property in the case of Wellington is valued at about £390,000, but as unimproved rating is in vogue here, the question aflpes: How is the rate to be struck P Tho proportion to be paid by the insurance companies is one-half of the remainder that is required, the City Council providing the other half, - but as this amount cannot be ascertained until it is decided what the Government is to pay there is a hitch. The contributions aro required to be paid by the end of the present month, so a solution must be found before that date.

It is probable that tie Government’s contribution will bo something like £IOOO, the insurance companies as a bodv and the City Council each providing £3OOO. The Csty Council, however, is likely to receive back more than £2OOO by way of interest on its property taken over by the Board.