PORT CHALMERS FIRE BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19897, 17 September 1926, Page 7

PORT CHALMERS FIRE BOARD

The quarterly meeting of the Port Chalmers Fire Board was hold last night. Thore were present Messrs S. B. M‘Don ald (chairman), E. L. White* R* Young, W. Lunn and J. Morgan. Mr J. Hislop, Under-secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs, forwarded approval of the board’s estimated expenditure of £252 Is lOd for the year.—Received. The Minister of Internal Affairs advised that he could not approve of the board s suggestion that the minimum penalty for malicious false alarms bo not less than a week’s imprisonment without the option of a fine. It would hamper the court in dealing with youth, people of weak intellect and others. A proposal to make the penalty a minimum fine of £2 was under consideration. —Received. The Christchurch Fire Board asked for the board's support of a proposal that the minimum fine for false alarms be £5; also that the financial year end on March 30; the Christchurch Board was opposed to reducing the personnel of boards from seven to five members, as such alteration would give the Government one-fifth of the rating power, while contributing only £3OO. It was stated that the Government contribution of £3OO did not effect this board, ns the Government contributed one-tenth of the expenditure with a maximum of £SO. In regard to the reduction of personnel, and that the year should end on March 30, it was decided to support these proposals. A tender from Messrs Fletcher and Duncan to erect a fire boll at Port Chalmers for the sum of £l3 5a was approved. The brigade s report stated that the motor and gear were in good order. One fire (a chimney) took place during the three months. The' brigade had 12 members and it asked that the strength be reduced from 20 to 15.—The report was adopted. The quarterly accounts amounting to £27 14s were passed for payment.