FIRE BRIGADES BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2204, 7 October 1907, Page 1

FIRE BRIGADES BILL.

SOME OBJECTIONS

At a special meeting of the Christchurch Fire Board, held on September 30tli, the following exceptions were taken to the Bill to amend 'he Fire Brigades Act of last session, now before tlio Legislative Council:

The Government contribution is insufficient for two reasons: —(1) It does not represent tho rate that is fairly payable for tho benefit that is conferred on tho Government buildings, public institutions (such as schools, etc.), and their contents. If the city ratepayers have to pay a certain rate for such benefits the Government should pay the same; (2) tho first year’s expense will necessitate a considerable capital expenditure for new plant, repairs to- p-e----mises which have been allowed to deteriorate for a time by reason of tlio prospect of the control being vested in the fire boards, and the City Council consequently refusing to sanction any expenditure other than was necessary for the bare upkeep. Power to borrow: The method of borrowing by overdraft without giving the banks a’statutory first clinrge on the board’s prospective revenue will hardly facilitate financial operations, while borrowing by way of debentures, or on mortgage, is cumbersome and expensive. A proviso that tho amount, so borrowed (i.e., by overdraft) should bo a first charge upon the board’s property would probably satisfy tlio banks. Tlie words, “with tho consent of tho Minister,” in clause 8 of the .amending Bill, should be struck out. Building regulations: Some provision for making life-saving apparatus on high buildings compulsory is required. Travelling and out-of-poc-ket expenses of meinibors of the board; Express power is also required to charge inspection fees for tho inspection of public buildings, theatres, etc., under section 34 of the 1906 Act, and of c lectricul installations under section 11 of tho 1907 Bill. Power to appoint officers: Power to remove should also be given. The repeal of sub-section (c) of section 18 of the 1906 Act, which deals with the establishment of stations or divisions of brigades and areas to be served, is unnecessary. The power generally to make regulations is verv meagre. (Section 39 of tho Victorian Act is wider. In particular, the Board should have power to- arrange a superannuation scheme as it is essential that members of the brigade should not be old men, while the services given are in connection with dangerous and strenuous work. Exemption should be conferred from telephone charges. Power is required to impose fines for false alarms, and the board should bo entitled to the fines. City Council contribution : A special rate of Id in tlie £ on tho annual rateable value of buildings is not sufficient to provide tlie amount of contribution. The amount of the special rate should be raised. It was resolved that a further endeavor be made to arrange a conference of representatives of lire boards at "Wellington.

MR BEN TILLETT.

HIS ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND,

By tho steamor Nairnshire thoru arrived at Auckland on September 27-t]i Mr. Ben Tillett, tho prominent English Labor leader, and one of the chief organisors of the great Association of Dock Laborers in the Old Country. Mr. Tillett, who visited Now Zealand* about ten years ago, has come out to tho Dominion again for the benefit of hiß health, and incidentally to inquire into the social condition of our people. Tho steamer oaino alongside the wharf 'at 11 o’clock, and was immediately afterwards boarded by Mr. H. L. Horning, president of tho Political Labor League, Mr. H. A. Campbell, country organiser of tho League, Mr. W. Pierce, vice-president, and Mr. It. F. Way secretary of tho Wa'tersido Porkers’ Union, who extended a hearty welcome to the visitor. In response to an invitation, Mr. Tillett expressed his willingness to address the dock workers, and at 12 o clock some 300 men assembled in one of tho largo goods sheds. .Mr. Tillett, who was greeted with cheers, said that on the last occasion ho visited Auckland there was no organisation of the dock workers, and ho had been informed it was impossible to bring about that end. He was pleased to see that now they had organised, and ho congratulated them. The mere fact of going for 6d a day more in wages was not the only thing that the working classes would have to consider. So long as the condition of society reigned which enabled those who worked the hardest to live in tho poorest houses and dress in the poorest clothes and to eut the poorest food and generally to livo tho poorest lives, while those who did no social productive work were enabled to enjoy all the pleasures and luxuries of wealth, tho working classes would have to turn their attention to solid, genuine reform. Mr. Tilleitt proceeded to point out the condition of labor in the Old Countrv. and mentioned that at Swansea the chairman and several members of tho Harbor Board were dock workers. He said that this class of men, who had generally been looked down upon, had shown that in intellect, in manliness, and in nobility they were the equals of any other class of society. The wharf laborers must consider that they were hum:)u beings, and as human beings and workers they were entitled to the best, and only the best, that could be produced mi the country. He urged them to fight to secure large representation on all public bodies and on. all public institutions

Asked as to the feeling in England regarding compulsory arbitration, Mr. Tdllett said lie had care-

fully studied the question, besides investigating the experiences of unionists with whom the system is in vogue, and he had been very favorably impressed with the result of his inquiries. Tor the last eight years he had moved a resolution in favor of com pul. rbitrati/" at tliP Tradr

'sorv arbitration a. n e Trades Union Congress. Tliey had increased the number of supporters of the proposal by hundreds of thousands, but, strange to say, those most opposed to it were Unions who had been most subject to the tyranny of employers. The Boilermakers’ Union, for instance, which had a membership of 50.000, had previously suffered from a lock-out, and this year they were again threatened with similar action on the part of the employers. Trade unionism certainly did require the benefits of the Act, for in thes'e days of “frenzied finance” one could not tell what evils speculation would bring about, evils which would affect the whole community and endanger national prosperity. “Mr. Pemlher Beeves,” continued Mr. Tillett, “has helped to promulgate the idea of compulsory arbitration in England, and I feel sure the time will coune when the English Unions will accept

. jMr. Tiljett intends visiting AVel-lin-giton and some of till© other labor centres. He will probably, however, address a meeting in Auckland in about a fortnight, leaving tho Dominion on his way to Australia in about a month or six weeks.