FIRE BRIGADES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 183, 5 August 1903, Page 4

FIRE BRIGADES.

PROPOSED BOARDB OF CONTROL.

CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE INSURANOE COMPANIES.

A new Government measure, the Fire Prevention Bill, providing for the control of fire brigades by special Boatds, has b:en introduced in the House of Representatives,

Under this Bill, every borough with a population of 1000 or more is constituted a fire district, while any other part of the colony may be similarly cunstitu'ed by Order-in-Oouncil. A Fire Board of seven members is to be chosen in every distric, three members to be appointed by the local authority or by the Governor and three by tbe iosurance companies. The companies doing businets in New Zealand are to frame regulations for the election of their representatives, and to this effect tbo Government is to convene the first meeting of re presentativts cf insurance J companies, each representative present I te have one vole oniy.

The Fire Boaids ate to be elected in March, 1904, and thence in March every alternate year. E:ch B.ard elects its own chairman, In June each year the Boards will have to submit to the Minister administsriDg the Act an estimate of expenditure, of which the Minister must approve. The amount of annual expenditure to estimated has to be contributed -half by the insurance companies ii_suring properties within the district and half by the local authoiity. The contributions hnvo to bo made quarterly—m September, December, March, and June of each year.

The amount to hi contributed by each insurance company is to be in proportion to the premiums received duricg tbe preceding year; and to estimate this returns must be forwarded to the Boards. A fine cf £5 per day is imposed when the returns are not received en due date. The contr.bu'ions are recoverable as a debt by the Board, and those of the local authority may be p.ud by the Colonial Treasurer and deducted from subsidies. Local authorities may strike a special rate not exceeding three-farthings in the pound on the annual rateable valus to make up their contribution, provided that in making such rate the local authority may include as rateable property all Government buildings in the fire district, and may for the purposes of such rate compute the annual value of such buildings at 5 par cant, of the capital value on the Government valuation roll.

In addition to maintaining brigades, the Board may make regulations covering the storage cf dangerous and explosive goods, and may impose a penalty of £5 for the breach of such regulations. Subject to the approval of ibe Minister, the Board may raise loins not ixcecdirjg £4OOO, the loan bting subjeci to a poll ui the ratepayers. These loaus may be lent by the Colonial Treasunras to a loual authority, provided that in any one ytar the sum shail not exceed £2OOO.

The Bill defines the duties of the superintendent, and provides that the Boards shall control the brigades and Ihe equipment provided for or belonging to the biigades, except in the case of a volunteer.