THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1881. THE FIRE BRIGADE CONFERENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2162, 29 January 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1881. THE FIRE BRIGADE CONFERENCE.

A deputation from the Fire Brigade Conference at Wellington has waited on the Government to ask them if they will take up the Bill which was thrown out last session, or a similar Bill, when Parliament meets. The Government have, on their part, advised the deputation to place the Bill in the hands of two private members, and have stated their readiness to assist in passing it through the House. Now considerable difference of opinion may exist as to tho action of the Conference. Some may think that it has acted entirely within its functions in fostering a Bill without any reference to the various municipal bodies. They may argue that it is a matter that solely concerns the various bodies of citizens, that there should be no necessity for the Councils being consulted in the matter, and they might point to various Boards, such as the Waimakariri and Drainage Boards, who are empowered to levy rates in municipalities, the Councils not having been noticed in any way where such Boards were formed. But that there are strong arguments pointing in another direction cannot be denied. To take the two Boards alluded to above as examples. Tho districts under their control swallow up, as it were, the Christchurch municipality. The powers entrusted to these Boards could not well he divided between themselves and tho Council without a great loss of executive power. Such is not tho case with regard to any Bill to bo introduced with regard to the maintenance of a fire brigade, at all events as the brigade is at present constituted. The general control of the brigade might well be left in the hands of the Council without any damage to its efficiency, and indeed was so left by last year’s Bill. And there is this point to be considered. Tho levying of rates within the boundaries of the municipalities is one of the main duties of the Council, and it is consequently desirable that, as far as possible, it should have the sole power in that direction. In watching over the interests of the citizens it is one of tho Council’s functions to see that their constituents are not overburdened with local taxation, and all forecasts and estimates will naturally bo so much the more disturbed as the rating powers of other bodies distinct from themselves are increased. Finally, with regard to the action of the Superintendent of the Christchurch Fire Brigade, who apparently has fully concurred in tho line taken by the Conference, it must be remembered that ho is a paid servant of the municipality, and it seems somewhat strange that he should, without protest, assent to the passing a measure overriding the powers of his employers without giving those employers any chance of being heard in the matter. It will be seen, therefore, that this question of the proposed Bill is a many-sided one, and we leave it to individual readers to form their own conclusions thereon.