THE FIRE BRIGADES BILL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 4, 30 September 1907, Page 6

THE FIRE BRIGADES BILL.

DJPORTA NT AMENDING . MEASURE.' ' ' Hie Fire Brigades Act Amendment Bill, which has been introduced by tlio Attorney-General (Hon. Dr. Findlay), will come before tlio Legislative Council for' its second .reading to-mo»row-afternoon. It is designed to remedy the defects of tlio Act of last session.i The File Boards, which were constituted under that Act,, found themselves' required to, carry on thoir work during the first threo months of thoir existence with 110 ' revenue and 110 power, to borrow money.' There were other Haws in tlio statute,' and tlio , : whole subject was discussed at a conference of representatives'of tlio Fire' ■. Boards held in-Wellington, .a 'few. weeks ago. The amending Bill is based ...' npon thb recommendations of that con- ' ference? ■ Financing the Boards. , The financial provisions of'the'inoasure have been entirely,;recast; The , Government's annual contributions to the revenues of the Boards'for land, "Wellington, Cbristchurch, ,and .Dunedin, instead of being determined on a proportional basis, are to consist of fixe dsums of £150 in each case, ' with £100 extra in Wellington, ,in con- ' sideration of the presence of the Government and Parliamentary Buildings. In other districts tlio Govornnient will contribute one-tenth of the cstirnat-cd ' expenditure, but 1 the contribution is • not to exceed £50 in any case. . The Boards will have power to borrow money, with .'the consent of tho ; Mincer, by way" of overdraft, mort•'gage, or debentures,- tho'interest .not to exceed five per cent.,,and will alstf. ks able to sell or exchange property. Tho contributions of the local- autho-. rity and the 'fire insurance companies will be payable quarterly' in advance. Tho Board 'may require any 'of .tho contributing companies;; to submit books and accounts to a duly authorised officer of .the Audit Department. • 'Another amending clause provides that the amount duo from'a local-authority may~l)e recovered as a debt due, to tho Board. ' Plant and- Property... The provisions regarding property . are considerably altered. Land and buildings are'to ,be transferred from tho local authority to tho Board, and ! the latter will pay four per cent, m- : terest v oni the value for twenty-five years, at the end of which period tho liability will cease., The plant and property, other than land and buiJcJWs, will bo vested, in the Board by virtuo of the ,Act. : Disputes, as . transfer are to bo determined by arbitration. : . I : .. Miscellaneous, Provisions., >, ;A - Five 'thousand is . fixed as the "minimum for ne_wfire districts; Other provisions deal ; with the nil' ' ing of casual vacancies in the Board, election of chairman, and appointment ■ of officers. ■ 1 The Inspector of Fire Brigades will advise and assist the Boards; inspect tho ■ Brigades .under their control at. least once a year/and report to ttie ~ Minister. ... ■ Fire Boards.are given.power to,ar- ' rar>"e for the inspection of electrical installations, and to require coroners to hold inquests as to fires. Pending the holding of such an inquest, the ' Board may take and retanv possession of' the' premises where the fire .ocenrred : ,