FIRE BRIGADES BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 4 October 1907, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADES BILL.

DEiiATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Pvr Press Association. \\ ellingtou, Last Night. In the Legislative Council this alternoon,

The Hon. George resumed the li hate on the Fire brigade iiiii. • lie wa opposed to the priuci|jlu ot the Hill, a he held that insurance companies shout not be called upon to slipport brigade* He contended that iusle-d of bringim down patchwork amendments, tiie Gov eminent should have regaled tiie Aci which was a disgrace to the Statut liook, and introduced ail entirely nc. measure. Under the Act. the Govern nient should have paid 1-litli nf the to ttl cost in Wellington, or £4O), an< now they proposed t-j p.y ~C2 0 a yea Exclusive oi the chief centres, iift-u districts were already created, and evei with a population limit of 5000 propoa ed, it would he possible to create undei the new Bill 31 boards. His lirst cs timate of the cost was £50,000 a year and yet the Government proposed ti contribute only £ISOO. The profits o insurance companies today, he declared were only 0 per cent, out of which tc pay dividends, and they were asked no\i to contribtue 5 per cent ot their pre lniums, leaving tnemselves only one pel cent. This meant that rates must lx raised, or the companies must cease tc exist. Regarding clause 7, dealing witt the Government's contributions, ht would move than Government contributions be one-seventh when the Bill was before the committee, and the balance to be found by the companies and the municipalities concerned. He asked how they were to get at outside companies for contributions—Lloyd's, for inst.mce: Lloyd's would l»e able to -to underwriting at lower rates than New Zealand companies. Clause 8, empowering boards to borrow, was a most Extraordinary clause, intended to cna'de boards to obtain an overdraft to stul upon, but what bank would give them an overdraft at 5 per cent? The clause should lie eliminated. He criticised the clause respecting payment by a Hoard for plant and property taken over, and contended tliat boards should get the plant and property used for fire extinguishing purposes free. The Hon. Uallan agreed with the Hon Bill amended when before the Statutes Revision Committee. He considered that the Government should contribute a, much as the city was culled upon to pay. He drew attention to several points" which would require special attention when before tue committee. The Hon. Callan agreed iwtli the Hon George that last year's Bill should be repealed entirely and a new Act pro vided. The present Bill was unsatisfactory, as it was a mere patched-iir measure. There was no question oi I principle involved in it. i The Attorney-General, replying, said ! til- objections raised could lie threshed i out liv the committee to which it was 'proposed to refer it. There was nc i principle to discuss, tli»"prineiple having been iifiirmed in the Act to whicl: this Bill was nn amendment. With re •j.ittl to the Hon. George's statement as to the Government's contribution ir I the citv of Wellington, the tire hrisacti

askP'l for C 212 a yo-.ir "« :i contrilm (ion. and the Government gave £250. ir.> refnte.l the contention that the Cnvommcnt shoiri.l contribute "as- niurli as the municipality of Wellhurton. A confruition l>v the fiovernment came not o.if «f the' pockets of the citizen.-. 1"'! r, ('■'■ v.-vV of the country. r■■ rem 1 rca'l'Hj w»« aptrecij to, a-,1 Hie Tffl! referred to tjic Joint Ft'i nv- T!evi-ion Committer.