FIRE BOARDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14685, 19 November 1909, Page 2

FIRE BOARDS

COXI'ERENCE AT WELLINGTON:

O-'er Uxited Press Association.)

WJiLLtAG'IOA, i\oveinber 18. A cuiiicruiiec of the i'ltu Boards of New Zealand was held to-day. Tlie following delegates weie present:—.Messrs A. Jj. Famous and u. Sj. iiateheior (Cliristcliurchj, ti. riayuun, J. C. i-Vag-uell, and Ji. J. Armstrong (Palmersiuii iSoith), A. Brown (jnisierion), W. Wliwaii (Fetone), T. Channel' (Dunedin), F. 0. Cray (Maori luil), 13. Kent and jj. Goidie (.-uiculaiulj, J. rmoii (.New t'lyiuouth), J. alallavd (Hastings, Liiiuiievirke, and Hokitika), It. M. Simpson and A. M'Fwan (Feilding). As the Ohristciwrch Board was tho convener oi the conference, .Mr Farsons was unanimously elected chairman, and Mi Kighton secretary.

Mr liaydon moved a remit from Fulmerston Aorih—"That the Minister be asked to define the position of a superintendent if requested to act outside his district." The mover slated that if lie acted n mile outside of his jurisdiction they were rendered liable for action.

nlr Kent said the same difficulty had arisen in New South Wales, and provision was made in the new bill in that State to meet it.

It wns agreed to amend section 31 of the Fire Brigades Act by inserting the words "or outside" alter the word

" within," so as to provide for work done outside a boundary.

It was agreed to amend section 51 of the act dealing with theatres and places of amusement, so as to make the owner liable for the provision of fire escapes in all place of amusement, churches, etc.

A remit from l'almerston North that fire boards be exempt from the operation of the Arbitration and Conciliation Acts or of subsequent acts was unanimously agreed to.

A remit from the Christchurch Board that the Government be asked to reduce the charges for installations and maintenance of wires for fire-alarm systems

was agreed to. A second remit from Christchurch that it was advisable that superannuation funds be established for the benefit of members of the permanent staff was discussed.

The Chairman pointed out that only the three large boards had permanent paid staffs on a large scale. It was desirable to make the tcrvice as attractive as possible to young men.

It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Goldic (Auckland),' to leave the remit for next conference.

A third remit from Christchurch, that the Fire Board Act be amended so as to provide that the Government could advance money to fire boards to purchase land and erect stations, was con6idered.

Mr Ewen pointed out that Palmerston North had already raised a loan,

It was agreed to amend the remit in the direction of making the fire boards local bodies in so far as borrowing is concerned, so as to bring them under the operation of the Loans to Local Bodies Act.

A further remit from Christchurch was that there should be a general uniformity of by-laws and regulations affecting lire prevention, with special reference to theatres and places of amusement, storage of empty crates, and inflammable good 6, and control of electrical installations.

The Chairman pointed out that several other matters, such as cinematographs, needed to be dealt with.

Mr Cray said it was very necessary to lincludc large factories and 'tearooms. All plumbers and electrical engineers should pass a uniform system of examination.

Mr Clialmer urged co-operation w, the local bodies. There was already too much legislation, and they should strive to minimise, rather than increase, legislation.

Mr Kent said the board had in Auckland endeavoured to co-operate as far as possible with the municipal authorities.

It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Kent, that the terms of the remit be agreed to, and that there be an interchange of by-laws between the different boards.

The last remit from Christchurch, that at least one telephone to fire stations be allowed without charge, was agreed to.

A remit from Masterton, that the financial year of the boards should cover the same period as for local authorities, and so altering it from the 30lh of June to the 31st. of March, was moved by Mr Brown, and agreed to.

Mi' Pragnell moved a remit from Palmcrstcm North that the provisions deal-' ing with expenditure be extended so as to include payment of expenses of firemen to competitions.

Testimony was borne to the good work done by the volunteer fire brigades by several delegates, and there was general agreement as to the need oi encouraging them.

After considerable discussion the remit was, however, withdrawn.

It was reported that the expenditure of the 18 firo boards for the year ended June 30 last amounted to of which the Government contributed £1217, the cities and boroughs £12,403, and the insurance companies "a like amount.

Resolutions were carried as follow :— " That property-owners insuring with offices not registered in the Dominion should have to pay to the board such a sum as would be levied on them were they insured by a company having no representative in Now Zealand; that the financial year of the boards close on March 31, instead of June 30."

The llasterton and Falmerston Boards both suggested the establishment of a Now Zealand Fire Boards' Association on the lines of the Municipal Association. Several delegates expressed the opinion that the time was premature for the formation of such a body. It was decided to refer the matter to the Christchurch Board, to be placed before the various boards, with a view to the formation of an association. The resolutions come to at the conference are to be drafted out by the Christchurch members of the conference, and a deputation will be arranged to wait on the Hon. 1). Buddo to lay them before him. (Fnoji Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, November 18. Payments towards the expenses of fire brigade competitions were severely condemned by some o' the principal insurance managers. Mr Simpson said ho/was so disgusted at the Materton Ikiard voting £28 for one of these competitions that he resigned as their delegate. Mr Mallard drew attention to a disastrous fire th;it occurred at Newcastle, New South -Wales, while the princinal members of the brigade were with a lot of their gear at a competition.