Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY APRIL 1, 1920. WANTED – A FIRE BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2110, 1 April 1920, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY APRIL 1, 1920. WANTED - A FIRE BOARD.

THE Mayor missed n good opportunity at the conference held on Tuesday night between Ihe Council and the newly-formed Brigade, of pointing out the advantages of setting up" a Fire Board for Foxton. If such a Board of Control were sanctioned it would relieve the Council of half the cost of setting up and maintaining up-to-date fire-fighting equipment for the borough, and place the whole responsibility upon a responsible body vested with wide (towers. The whole machinery is contained in the ‘‘Fire Brigades Act of " and its amendments. It is not. necessary to wait for a high-pressure water supply before bringing a Board into existence. Here are a few facts: The Board consists of seven members, one to be appointed by the Governor, three by the insurance Companies, and throe by ■the local authority. Annual estimates of expenditure are prepared by the Board, and the proportion of contribution lixed as follows: .Government, a sum equal to the amount in respect of all Government buildings in the borough if such buildings were rateable property, and the remainder*, after deducting the amount aforesaid, one half by the insurance companies insuring property within the borough, and one half by the borough. The contribution by the Borough may be raised by rates. The formation of the Brigade and all other details are controlled by the Board, which is empowered to make its own by-laws. A Fire Board, -if constituted by a poll of the ratepayers, would relieve the ■Council of. all responsibility, and the

Brigade would he controlled upon proper lines and subject to the oversight of the Chief Fire Superintendent. The constitution of a Fire Board will settle once and fur all the lire brigade question, and we suggest that; the Mayor —and we feel he will fall in with our views—convene a public meeting to explain and discuss the proposal.