A FIRE BOARD PROPOSAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 453, 11 March 1909, Page 6

A FIRE BOARD PROPOSAL.

FOR WELLINGTON CITY.

The question of establishing a Fire Board for tlio city has boon revived, and, at tonight's meeting of the City Council, a report will.bo read recommending tho council to take steps to place that issue before tho ratepayers in conjunction with tho municipal election on April 28. It is \irged that tho change, if effected, would result in the annual saving of a large sum. Wellington had a Fire Board constituted under thcAct'of 1906;~but>'it' was made permissive under the Act of 1907, and tho city reverted to tho old system, which has remained in operation ever since. Tho alteration was mado by the City Council about tho, end of 1907.

Section 5 provides that on tlio application of the local body, the Governor may declare a district to be a fire district if tlio population is over 2000, and if a poll of tho ratepayers has been taken, a bare majority of votes, being sufficient, hut a third of tho ratepayers must record their votes.. Of the seven members of a board, one must be appointed by tho Governor, three require to be elected by tho contributing local authority, and three by the insurance companies. The Question of finance is dealt with by Section 21, which provides that the Minister for Finance shall pay annually £200 out of the Consolidated Fund to tho Auckland, Christclmrch, and Duncdin boards, and £400 to the Wellington Board, owing to tho presence hero of the Parliament and Government Buildings. Regarding tho expenditure beyond the sums mentioned, one-half shall be paid by the local authority and tho other'half by tho insurance companies. At present tho 'City Council carries tho whole financial responsibility. '