A FIRE BOARD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 103, 25 January 1919, Page 7

A FIRE BOARD

COUNCILLOR VEITCH'S PROPOSAL DEFEATED, v

Councillor .Vcitch moved at last evening's meeting of .the. City Council; —''Thai; in the opinion of this council the time has arrived for furt-heri consideration of the question of establishing a fire board for the 'city of "Wellington, as against the present; system of- municipal .control of tho lire' brigade, 'and'.that io'this end a special committee be appointed to. consider, the /whole question, and report to the council lit the earliest-'opportunity, in order that, : should it be necessary to consult the'-fatepayer's/a poll may' bo takeiv aj.' the - forthcoming "'municipal election." ' ' ■' ' •

• Mr: W. H. Bennett seconded the motion pro. forma. •••• •

• Tho Mayor Spoke against tho .'establishment of: a fire.'board.; "There was something moro to be he thought, than any financial'' saving that would bo effected under Councillor Veitch's scheme'.' The ' council managed an efficient fire-fighting force, siifl.it could not subscribe t.o anything that would ensure the safety of the people in any less'degree., TI6 thought it would bo u ; retrograde.'step to hand oyer.to any body other than .the City' Council the lino organisation' the council had its disposal.-

• Councillor . iM'Kcnzie said that lie' had often wondered why: in places where the firo brigade was not under' tho control of a fire board the insurance companies should not contribute something--towards tho upkeep-of tho organisation that often, saved them, much money. . The ratepayers saw to tho upkeep of the lire brigade, but the insurance companies benefited largely by tho organisation, and should in eoniewa.vassistinsupporting.it. Councillor .Vcitch said, that he had not. como to tho meeting prepared to debate the merits of the All he wished wilt) to see the council set lip a committee which would put before it all the. information, that, was to bo had (jn tho subject. 'Then the council would be able to decide which was the better system. . ..

Councillor Veitch's, motion was lost on a. division.

The Rov. Moses A.yrton will speak ■under the auspices of the Social Democratic' Party in tin: andra' Hall, Abel Smith Street," on .Sunday" evening, the title of his address .'being ."the. Dynamics,':;., ofthe Labour Movement."