FIRE BRIGADES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20493, 11 August 1936, Page 9

FIRE BRIGADES

QUESTION OF LEVIES To last night’s meeting of the Timaru Borough Council, the Town Clerk (Mr E. A. Killick) presented a report regarding levies under the Fire Brigades Act, 1926. The report stated that the position at present was that under the Fire Brigades Act, 1926, the finances of the Fire Boards were provided by equal levies on the Fire Insurance Companies and the Council after deducting the small contribution made by the Government in terms of the Act. In Timaru the requirements of the Fire Board would be made up as follows: —Government £lOO, Borough Council £1250, InInsurance Cos. £1250; total £2600. A remit that the Act should be amended in the direct?'m of making provision for increasing the Insurance Companies’ proportion of the Fire Boards levies and thereby making a reduction in the contribution of local bodies was lost on the voices at the 1934 Municipal Conference. This, however, was of little significance one way or the other. The report referred to a letter which was sent to Mr R. Girling Butcher, Inspector of Fire Brigades in 1934, and quoted his reply. In conclusion the report stated:—“lf the Council are of opinion that the Insurance Companies rhould pay the greater proportion of the Fire Board requirements then I suggest that a copy of this report be sent to the Municipal Association executive and if they agree a remit could be placed before the conference by the executive. The conference would naturally expect that debatable matter Such as this involving lengthy reports and specific information should be considered by the executive, who should give a ruling upon the matter. It could not be expected that the conference, with the multitude of remits it has to deal with, should give close and unhurried attention to a matter such as this.” The report was referred to the executive of the Municipal Association.