FIRE BRIGADES BILL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 30 September 1907, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADES BILL

I'cr Tress Association. Wellington, Saturday. | Under the new Fire Brigades Bill, the Government's contribution to the new l''ire Hoard's funds is now fixed at) u definite amount, viz., £l5O per annum, in the ease of Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin Boards, and £250 to the Wellington l3oard. The larger sum in the case oi' Wellington is due to tho fact that t'iic Parliamentary and Government buildings are situated within the Board's area. In the case of the Board of any other fire district .the Government's annual contribution is to he a sum equal to one-tenth of the Board's estimated annual expenditure, |iut not exceeding in any case the smn

of £SO. Boards are specifically given power to borrow inoney, to appoint officers, and to include in the scope of their by-laws power to inspect electrical installations. If any local authority objects to the transfer of any land or buildings to the Board under the provisions of the Bill on the ground that it is expedient in the public interest that such land or buildings should be permanently devoted to fire prevention purposes, the dispute shall be determined by the arbitrators, the land or buildings shall be exempt from the operations of the Act. The clause of the original Act which deals with the method of ascertaining the joint insurant# and the amount of insurance companies' contributions, is -strengthened by a new provision that, for the purpose of verifying the return, a Board, pliall be entitled to demand that the

books and accounts of any company may be submitted to any duly authorised officer of the Audit Department. Any default in ao doing will render the company liable to a fine of £5 per 'day while the default continues. The Fire Boards are given power to require any coroner in their district to hold nn inquiry in regard to any fire taking place with the area under' their jurisdiction. No area shall he declared a fire district unless it eontsiins a population of not. less than five thousand according to the last preceding censns. : -