FIRE PROTECTION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18416, 24 June 1925, Page 8

FIRE PROTECTION.

NEW STATION FOR i SYDENHAM. | A DIVIDED BOARD. | The C'hristehureh Fire Heard last night- decided i't call lor tenders lor a new !i.ro station at Sydenham. 'the new station will be erected on a site adjoining the present station, and the cost of tho building is estimated at itiOOO. The decision to proceed with tho new building was not arrived at unanimously. The Hoard were sharply divideo. aud tho proposition was carried by four voles to three. tho three Council representatives and the Government nominee voting with the aye*, and

the i n roe in.sura lv.-o representatives with tho noes.

Tho matter was discus-sod at longtii in committee. ami cm resuming cue chairman. Mr A. \\ihiains. said that, the .Hoard in committee had decided that it. Mas necessary to proceed with the erection of a new sub-station at Sydenham. lie moved that tlie action of the committee bo adopted by the Hoard.

The motion was secen-ded by Cr. E. 11. Andrews. v. Robinson said bo wanted to place on rceoru i...« , - - -v against the proposal, more particularly ii._view ot the fact that the* Hoard was far iroin unanimous or. the subject, lour members favouring' the proposal and three opposing it. Tho Hoard should reconsider tbo mutter. Mr G. I). Mcllwraith asked to have his protest recorded also. Cr. E. H. Andrews: What would have happened had tho voting been tiie other way about and wo had protested. Nothing would be done at all. "Mr Robinson said that the action taken that night brought in, issue the constitution, of Fire Hoards. The Hoard had just voted estimates tot all ling £l3 000, ami of that a-nVount tho City Council paid £GA(IO. the insurance, panies £G4(IO, and tho Government £-ut) Regarding the new (Sydenham fire station, tho votes of tlio three City Council representatives went in favour ot tlio proposal, and the votes ot tbo three representatives of the insurance companies went against it. Tho propostil wus carried by tlio \ ■which represented a contribution ot £2OO out of £.13,000. . Cr. A. 1). Ford : That £'-'OO is tnci Government contribution for appointing a referee. , . ~ Mr Robinson: And for getting tho Government buildings protected. the Hoard has protested on this matter before, and I ta'ko it this is a suitable occasion to protest again. Cr. Ford: Tho Government should pay ■more.

Mr Robinson: Or vote less. The chairman (Mr A. "Williams) saicl that some question was raised as to •whether ho as chairman should allow tho matter to be decided by four votes to three. Ho said, ves, most certainly. .All local bodies thai he. knew of ranie "to a decision hy a majority vote. That was <|uito right, otherwise what would ho tho use of the Board meeting at all if tho members wero not prepared to how -to majority rule. Ho considered tho Hoard had done tho fight thing regarding the Sydenham station. Ho could not possibly associate himself with any movement which did not- provide for progress in tho matter of lire protection. and for safeguarding the interests of tho citizens. The Board also owed a duty to tho tiromen and should not expect the men to occupy quarters tl|it tii/i."memln ; would not occupy. Tho quarters at the present Sydenham station were disgusting in tho extreme. Tho cottage whero tho married mail lived should have Imjcu condemned long Kgo, and 110 married man and family should have been allowed to occupy it. Now that the Board was in a position to provide better quarters lor tho married man and better accommodation fov tho singlo men of tho Sydenham brigado ho considered it "was their duty to do so. In tho interests of the public, and also of tho brigade tho new station at Sydenham was required and those Avere his reasons for lighting for the new station. Tho city should bo congratulated in having a. majority ot members on the Board who realised their responsibility to tho pnl> lic and to the men. Mr Robinson said that it was a matter of spending £GOOO to £7OOO to house one fire engine, a reel and six men at Sydenham. Tho chairman: You do not say what tho new station is going to house. Mr Robinson: Tho Christehurch station cost £13,000 to build, and that fetation houses at least four engines—possibly five—and thirty-five men, including married men with families.

Or. Andrews: "We could not build it for £13.000 now.

Mr Robinson: My protest is based on the fact that tho Sydenham station proposed to bo built is out of all reason for one engine, 0110 reel and six men.

Mr IT. 11. Busbridgc: Tho building cost now is 109 per cent, higher than when tho city station was erected. The chairman : In tho case of Sydenham, wo aro looking to tho future. Cr. A. 1). Ford: Personally, I would not live in tho quarters t)''ovided at the Sydenham station, and therefore Mould not aek the liremen to live there. In any event, wo have, to look to the future. In ]o or 20 years' time Sydenham will bo a big industrial district, and we have tho opportunity now to provido a station that will meet the requirements of tho district for the ntixt 2o years.

Mr Robinson: I want it on record that I also agree with Mr Ford and the other members of tho Board that it is absolutely essential to improve conditions at tho Sydenham station, but not in tho manner decided by tho Board.

3Hr Robinson proposed an amendment to the chairman's motion: "That the question of the alterations to the present Svdenham station and tho erection of suitable residential quarters on the adjoining section b© considered by the Board after securing further expert advice." Mr H. It. Rusbridge: I voted for fhe motion because we had gone fully into tho matter and found it was absolutely essential to have a new station. Mr Bobinson: In the opinion of Mr Eusbridge. Mr Rusbridge: In tho opinion of experts.

ilr G. D. McllwraiLh ito tho chairman) : You insinuated that the three insurance members did not have the interests of tho men at heart.

The chairman: 1 only spoke for myt". Mr Mc-Ilwraith: Wo all wanted improved quarters for tho men. Cr. E. 31- Andrews said the Board had dono tho right thine. Even if it cost a little more to timid a new station rather than remodel the old, therewas such a thing as false economy in cutting down expenditure. The Board had-to look to the future and in the long run would' save money by building a new station'and disposing of the old one instead of patching up the latter and having it unsatisfactory. Mr Robinson's amendment was put and h/st by four rotes to three, the rotiijg being : Ayes (3): Messrs K. Robinson, G. D. Melhvraith and .T. J!. Cameron i,insurance representatives.!. Noes ('(,>: Mr A. Williams. Crs. A. D. Ford and E. H. Andrews (City Council representatives) and Mr H. R(Government nominee). The motion to adopt the decision of the B~nrd in committee was thereupon carried. \ Tlf- Board also dec-idea to call for tender.; for the erection of tin 3 new building. ,an amendment proposed by Mr Robinson that the calling of tenders to postponed until tho present station, ivas sc>lcL Mac .fcfeatsi*./