EIRE BRIGADES BILL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6326, 28 September 1907, Page 8

EIRE BRIGADES BILL.

EEMEDTING DEFICIENCIES. THE AMENDING MEASEEE. The difficulties which made themselves evident when the Fire Brigades Act of last session came into operation arc to be overcome by an amending Act now in circulation. It has been introduced by the lion. Dr Findlay (Attorney-General) in the Legislative Council. CONTEIBUTOKS. The Government’s contribution to the Board’s funds in return lor the protection against fire provided by the brigade for public buildings is now lined at a definite, amount, via, JAM per annum in tho case of the Auckland, Uhristchuich, and Dunedin bo.trds, and A*2so to the Wellington board, the larger sum ui the latter case being due to the fact that the Parliamentary and Government Buildings are situated within the board s al ln* the case of the board of any other fire district, the Government's annual contribution shall be a sum equal to one-tenth of the board's estimated annual expenditure, but not exceeding in any case the sum of ,£6O. POWERS OP BOARDS. The boards are specifically given power to borrow money, to appoint odicers, and to include in the' , scope of their by-laws the power to inspect electrical installations. . . • The Inspector of Brigades is to inspect each brigade under the control ot lire board© at least onco a year, and shall also annually report to tne Minister upon the administration of the Act by tn© board, and the efficiency of brigades under the boards' control. ■ TRANSFER OF PROPERTY. All land and buildings used for pub* lie fire-prevention purposes at the date of the constitution of a hro area unucr the Act shall be transferred to the’ lire board, and the cost of property or p-ant transferred shall be ascertained either by agreement or arbitration under the Arbitration Act, 18;K). • The boara pay to the local authority interest at the rat© of four per cent, per annum on the capital cost of property transferred by tiiv> local authority, but the omy provides’ ior paying nite.est lor tvvencynve years, and nrc boards are not to be under any obiigat.ou to pay to any local authority the capital value of such property. if any local authority objects to transfer any land or bulitungs 10 the bcaixi un-aer the piovisions of the Act on the ground that it is inexpedient in the public interest that such land or bunauigs should be permanently devoted to tuo* prevention purposes, tne dispute snail be uectii-iuinea by arbitration; and il the objection of tne local autuonty is mamtauiea by tne urbitiacors, tne sa-u lanor buildings shall be-exempt from the operation oi the Act. INSURANCE COMPANIES. When the fire boards were constituted, they immediately encountered the diihcuciy that no contributions were due from the local authority and insurance companies for thiee months. The new Bill remedies this by providing that tamounts snail be paid In advance. The clause in tne original Act which deals with the method of ascertaining the amount of : insurance companies' contributions is strengthened by a new provision that, for the purpose of verilying the return, a board shall be entitled to demand that boohs and accounts of any company may bo submitted I any duly authorised officer of the Au--Department. Any default in so. doing will render the company liable to a fine of' £o per day while the default. continues. . , • INQUIRIES INTO FIRES. . - Fire boards are given power to require any coroner in their district to hold hn inquest in regard to any fir© l baking place within the area under their jurisdiction, In such a case, the boards may take; and retain possession of any premises where a fire occurred, pending the holding of the inquest. No area shall be* declared a fire district unless it contains a population of not less than five thousand according to the last preceding census. Provision is now made, for the fil l-v of casual vacancies on the board, this being don© by the authority by whom thr member resigning was elected. Under the* original Act 'there woe apparently no power to elect a chairman ox the board except at the annual meeting. This deficiency is now to be remedied.