FOXTON FIRE BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2519, 16 December 1922, Page 2

FOXTON FIRE BOARD.

CHAIRMAN SEVERELY CRITICISED. HOARD NOT RESPONSIBLE TO COUNCIL. At u meeting of the Foxton Fire Board held yesterday afternoon, strong' exception was taken by members to certain statements made by the chairman (Mr J. Chrystnll) in his capacity as Mayor, at the last Council meeting. Mr Hornblow took exception to the unauthorised action of Air Chrystall in bringing the matter of iht* erection of :i fire station and the estimated cost of same, before the Borough Council. He considered that the statements made by the Mayor were unwarranted and very unfair to the Board, and they were liable to mislead the public. He objected particularly to the remark that “the other members of the Board wanted to incur unnecessary expense." The attitude Mr Chrysiall had taken up was unworthy of the position he held as chairman of the Board. Mr Smith said that he also objected strongly to the Mayor's statements to the Council. He declared dial lie, for one, had never advocated an increase in the official estimate of £7<JO for the station nor had Mr Hornblow. He had taken an active interest in forming the brigade and had endeavoured to safeguard the property of citizens. He bad tbe interests and welfare of Foxton as much at heart as Mr Chrystall and his attitude at the Council was uncalled for. Air E. C. Cray stated that if Mr Chrystall had made the statement he was reported to have made —

“the other members of the Board rained to incur further expense"--then he (Mr Cray) on behalf of insurance representatives, would emphatically deny the accusation. Tie and the other insurance members de.-ired to have the very best aid most convenient station and equipment provided, and while they wished to keep within the estimates they were prepared, if necessary, to go beyond the £7OO in order to ensure that the building should be adequate and sufficient for the needs of the Brigade for many , years to come. He had opposed Mr C’hrys tail's attempt to erect a corrugated iron shed to do duty as a fire station. His opinion was that the chairman's action in referring at the Council meeting to a matter that was as yet undecided by the Board was most improper, and, that the statements made at that meeting were unwarranted and misleading. Mr Chrystall said lie was prepared to stand by what be had said as the borough Council was a contributing authority. Mr D. J. Bews spoke in support of the policy adopted by the insurance members. Subsequently, when a letter was read from tbe Council, containing llie motion carried at the Council meeting respecting the erection of the tire station ltie chairman’s actum was again referred to and it was pointed out that the Eire Board was a body with statutory powers and quite independent of the Council in its administration. The following uioton, moved by Mi Hornblow, seconded by Mr Cray was carred, the chairman dissent - ing: "That this Board acknowledges receipt of the emphatic protest re estimate for erection of tire station, as passed by the Council, and respectfully poinst out that the Board is not responsible for any unauthorised statements which may have been made to the Council in respect to the Eire Board’s administration.” At the conclusion of the meeting Mr Cray said that no matter how they might differ from the chairman or among themselves in matters affecting the Board such differences ended outside the Board room. The usual compliments were exchanged.