FIRE BOARDS.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43087, 2 May 1907, Page 4

FIRE BOARDS.

During the recent elections some attention was paid to the proposals cor. tanned in the Fire Brigade Act of 1906 for the appointment of Fire Boards under the Act. If such a, proposal is carried, it will be necessary to elect a Fire Board of seven, members, one to be appointed by the Governor, three to be elected by the .insurance* companies carrying on business in the Borough;, and three to he elected by the Borough Council. Tills Board will hold office for two years, and will meet at least four times every year, that is to say, in the months of June, September, December, and March. On or before the 30th day of June in every year the Board will have to submit, to the Minister charged with the administration of the Act an estimate of the probable expenditure necessary for the ensuing twelve months. To meet this expenditure the Government will pay out of the Consolidated Fund a sum equal to the amount that would be payable, under section 16 or otherwise, in respect of all Government buildings in the, district if such buildin,gg were rateable property, while the remainder, after deducting the amount so, paid .will be paid—one-half b- the insuring companies insuring property within the fire district, and one-half by the Borough Council. Section 16 provide® that the Borough Council may either pay its share out of the general rate or make and levy for that purpose a separate rate not exceeding one penny in the pound on the annual rateable property in the borough. The individual insurance companies’ shares are to, be calculated on the gross, amount of their premium receipts from borough properties, less the amounts paid by way of reinsurance. The Fire Board, being thus provided with the required income, will have to maintain an efficient brigade, and is empowered to make necessary 'by-laws, not only for the administration of the brigade.', but also relating to the storage of kerosene and dangerous explosives, and of empty crates and packages, shavings, hay, straw, and other inflammable, substances. All land and buildings occupied by a, 'brigade will be vested in the Board! .the latter paying the local authority or other owner of such, land or 'buildings a rental of 4J per cent, on the capital value. The superintendent of the brigade is further given power to enforce the provision of proper means of escape in case, of fire from public buildings.