MUNICIPAL CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 99, 15 August 1944, Page 7

MUNICIPAL CONTROL

NEW PROPOSAL NOT FAVOURED

OPPOSITION FROM, BOARD

A meeting of the Whakatane Fire Board took place on Wednesday evening" Messrs F. B. Cutler (Government Nominee), S. S. Sliapley (Chairman) and J. Cieekc (Borough Council representative) together with Messrs R. A. Wilson and M. Gumming, insurance representatives being present. After the completion of the formal business, a considerable discus-* sion took place on the proposed new scheme for the reorganisation of the Dominion Fire Service, put forward by the Minister of Internal Affairs. T't. is proposed that the present system of lire boards be superseded by one whereby the control of brigades will be in the hands of a committee from the town in which the brigade is situated, with the exception of the larger cities. These will retain the fire board system. A provision would be made for a central council in Wellington which would co-ordinate the activities of all brigades and in due course bring about a measure of standardisation of equipment and training. Opposition was expressed to the proposal, it being felt that an improvement in organisation and efficiency had resulted from the change from municipal to board control, and that a change back to the former would definitely be a retrograde -step. Furthermore, it was felt that the co-ordination of the activities of the Dominion brigades could be effected without changing the present system. The change would involve the elimination of 'insurance members from fire boards, whose experience had, in the past been ot inestimable value. Also, insurance companies would be required to contribute to the' funds of local bodies without representation or a direct say in the expenditure of such funds. Generally it was considered that equipment would deteriorate and loss, of efficiency would result. It was resolved that the Board was not in favour of any alteration in the present constitution of fire boards, the existing legislation providing all the necessary machinery whereby any extension of fire services in the Dominion could be achieved.