Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1922. FIRE BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2394, 18 February 1922, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1922. FIRE BOARD.

TIIE local Fire Brigade are unanimous in their desire to have a Fire Board constiluted for Foxton. The Brigade lias given the subject very careful consideration at several meetings, and finally invited Inspector Hugo to confer with them so that there should he no misconception in the steps about to he taken prior to submitting the question to the ratepayers for final decision. Although Inspector Hugo was guarded in his remarks, his address on Thursday night strengthened the opinions of the Brigade in favour of a Fire Board. His estimate for capital expenditure toe she. station, equipment, ell-., is £l,r>()(). The annual expenditure on maintenance, including interest and sinking fund, with careful supervision, would amount to about £315. This annual expenditure represents the cost of up-to-date fire-fighting methods for Foxton under any control, unless the capital cost could he reduced by the gift of a site. If the Council undertook the sole responsibility of a lire prevention scheme, it would add considerably to the rates, and result possibly in a cheese-paring policy prejudicial to efficiency. Under a Fire Board, the cost would be equitably distributed between the Council, insurance companies and (!uveminent, m the proportion ot -to pei cent, by each of the first named, and (lovermneni HI per cent. On the basis mentioned the Councils annual quota would be £l5O per annum at the outside. We believe tin* local authority would be pleased to transfer its responsibility, and at the same time effect a financial saving by supporting the constitution of a Fire Board, upon which it would have fair representation. The constitution of a Fire Board is, of course, in the hands of the electors, hut the moral support of the Council would doubly ensure the success of the poll.