STATE AND CITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 833, 3 June 1910, Page 2

STATE AND CITY.

FIRE BRIGADE SERVICE. GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO PAY. The relationship between the Government and the City Council in regard to fire brigade service was the subject of some noteworthy remarks at the City Council last evening. The Fire Brigade Committee (Councillor Ballinger, chairman) reported:— "Tha.t on April 2fi, 190!), an account for the services of the Fire. Brigade at the Post Office block fire that took place on May 22, 130S, amounting to «£67 75., was forwarded to the Post and Telegraph Department. The claim was disputed, and the committee pointed out to the Department that, as the Government do not pay water or general rates, or for water, used for fire prevention purposes in the city, they consider that the Government should pay for the brigade's services and for the use of the plant in protecting the Government's property. ' "The committee have to recommend that the council request the city's representatives in Parliament to take the matter up. and have also to recommend that the general question of the Government paying for -such services be forwarded as a remit to the Municipal Conference."

The committee also reported that the Harbour Board had agreed to pay the account of <£55 10s. for the services of the brigade at the "J" shed fire.

The Mayor (Mr. "Wilford) paid he thought it was a disgraceful thing that in a city like "Wellington the responsibilities ot the Government were not recognised. Practically all the head offices of the Government were in' Wellington, including huge wooden buildings, and the City Council had to go on its knees to th* Government and ask it for a dole towards-the brigade expenses. Even under a Fire Board, the "£IOO which the Government would pay would not roeet the position. Wellington was peculiarly and badly situated in this respect. The Government had big wooden buildings here, and yet was paying no rates and nothing for water. The Government received other advantages of the kind, and he found, when he waft chairman of the Harbour Board, that tl\?y brought a lot of goods over the wharves without paying, but wlien he raised the question hj found it was a two-edged sword—he would not explain how. He would do all he could in Parliament in the matter of payment by the Government for fire brigade services. The report and recommendations of tns committee were adopted.