FIRE BOARD ESTIMATES

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28261, 26 April 1957, Page 12

FIRE BOARD ESTIMATES

Discussion On Publication

No copies of proposed estimates of expenditure, amounting to £106,830, were handed to reporters when the Christchurch Fire Board set out to consider financial proposals for the 1957-58 year on Wednesday evening. The secretary (Mr S. F. Marshall) handed copies to members, and a discussion was about to begin when a “first-annual-meeting member,” Mr A. B. Grant, asked: “Have you copies for thg reportelMembers appeared surprised, and were unable to recall practice in previous years, but the general feeling appeared against passing the estimates over. “We are a little bit different from other local bodies,” said Mr Marshall. “The estimates considered tonight will be submitted to the Fire Services Council for final approval.' They can amend these estimates. They can reduce them and, in fact, last year they did reduce them. If the figures are made public they might be misleading. It is not like the City Council, which adopts estimates, and that is that.” Business of the Board “I would oppose that,” said Mr Grant. “I know the estimates might be altered, but they are altered in other places too. These estimates are not the business of the Fire Services Council—they are the business of this board. The fact that the council can override the board is beside the point.” Mr M. R. Carter: I am inclined to agree. We are the public representatives on the board, and the public has as much right to the estimates as we have. “It is not all public money,, though,” said Mr A. B. E. Turner. “My point is that the estimates are the property of the board,” replied Mr GrantMr Giant then moved that “the press be supplied with the estiMr N. R. Forbes withdrew a motion providing for the withholding of the estimates until approved by the council, and seconded Mr Grant’s motion,, > which was carried. “Well, tell the press not to t publish/the first part about the 1 salary of the chief fire officer (Mr » L. R. Osmond),” said Mr W. E. ! Olds. > The chairman (Mr W. R. Camp- ' bell): I cannot tell them, but I can ask them. - Mr Grant: Tell them to show , how much/ they get for the re- - sponsibillty they have. ’ “I can’t do any more, gentlemen,” Mr Campbell told mem- - bers, who carried on with the f meeting without further comf ment. Within seconds salaries I were the subject again. Secretary’s Salary

“It looks a low salary for the work that is done on this job,” Mr Grant remarked during a discussion on a sum of £B5O budgeted for secretarial payment. Mr Marshall: It compares with other centres. Mr Grant: Maybe. But it is low for the amount of work I have seen done since I have been on the board. Mr Forbes, who said that Mr Marshall had to pay a typist out of the money, said he agreed with Mr Grant. “The present system is wrong. It is about time the board paid secretary and typist separately/* he said. Mr Turner: Make it a thousand. Mr Grant: I was going to suggest that. The board agreed to the proposal to budget for secretarial payment of £lOOO for the 1957-58 financial year. “We’ll just have to chop it off something else,” Mr Olds said.