RICCARTON FIRE PROTECTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16452, 14 June 1921, Page 4

RICCARTON FIRE PROTECTION.

FIRE BOARD’S OFFER ACCEPTED. The Riecarton borough, which has been without a. system of fire protection in the past, will, as a result of the decision of the Borough Council last night to accept an offer from the Christchurch Fire Board, bo provided immediately with adequate protection similar to that afforded the area at present included in the board’s district. Some time ago a •conference was convened by the Riecarton Council. ami was attended by delegates from Riecarton. Waimairi. Heathcoto. Cashmere and Spreydon districts. The outcome of this conference- was that an application was made to the City Fire Board to extend its boundaries to give protection to the areas governed by these councils. The Fire Board went into the matter and submitted prices for a joint, scheme. Shortly after Spreydon joined tho city and automatically came into tho lire area. The only council that appears to have gone very fuliy into the matter is the Riecarton Borough Council, because when the joint scheme began to hang fire the Mayor, of Riccarton asked the Fire Board to submit (without prejudice to the larger scheme should it eventually go through) a, quotation for immediate protection by the board’s plant of the Riecarton borough.

Last night the Mayor (Mr A- D. Ford.; read a letter from the board offering to provide the protection asked for for the sum of £GUO per annum. In moving that tho offer bo accepted the Mayor said he had given the matter very serious consideration, and they could not provide anything like the same protection themselves for the sum quoted. They had a fair amount of water available and next year they could go into the question *of putting in au alarm system if then thought necessary. *‘ As regarded the. cost to the individual ratepayer,” added the Mayor, “ it will mean 6s 3d for every £IOO of his unimproved value—that is, a ratepayer whose unimproved value is, say, £l5O, will pay 9s 5d by way of fir© protection per annum. IVhcn we view the low cost per ratepayer, coupled with the great satisfaction and benefits the borough will derive from the scheme. T think we can congratulate the residents that fire protection is now for Ihem an established fact, and at a low cost. Personally T am very pleased to think that never again in this borough will we see. ratepayers’ property destroyed by fire simply because the brigade in the past would not conic over the bound .vy between us and the city.” The Mayor explained that provision for the coming year’s cost had already been made in the estimates. Councillor H. W. Wise seconded the motion and expressed Hie opinion that the council could not del iy tho uiatLcr any longer. IT© asked if there was any chance of the decision prejudicing the larger scheme of fire protection in conjunction with tjie Waimairi aiui Henthcoto Counties. The Mayor replied that he had instructed the town clerk to write to Waimairi and Heathcoto O'tanfcy Councils stating that tho council considered it was not. fair to allow the Riecarton borough to go unprotected and hurl approached the Fire Board tor a quotation for tho protection of Riecarton only, and in doing so it was carefully pointed out that such quotation was in no way to prejudice the larger undertaking that was being considered by other local bodies conjointly with R.iecarton. So as to obtain early protection the council proposed to get the. Fire Board to give its protection to the Riecarton borough immediately. The letter also stated that the coupcil would be pleased to move along with the otlier local bodies concerned when they had given tho matter of fir© protection favourable consideration.

The motion was carried unanimously and it was also decided that a committee consisting of the Maypr and Councillors A. E. Steer© and J. Munnings should bar set up to report on the matter of lire alarms and water supply.