FIRE BRIGADES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 7 November 1907, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADES.

. » GOVERNMENT'S BILL. IMPORTANT AMENDMENT CARRIED The Fire Brigades Bill was considered in committee of the House of Representatives on Tuesday night. An amendment was brought down by Governor's message increasing the amount payable by the Government to the F'ire Boards in the four centres from £1.30 to £2OO.

Various members urged a reduction of the 5000 population limit before a fire district could be declared, to meet the desires of the smaller districts.

The Minister said he was willing to reduce it to 1)000. Mr. J. Allen moved to reduce the limit to 1000.

.Mr. Field urged Hint two or more districts should lie allowed to combine to establish a Fire Hoard district. He moved accordingly. Th'. 1 Hon. J. Carroll agreed to compromise by reducing the limit to 2000. He, could not come down any further. He reminded lion, members that the whole question was governed by a business sense as to what they started with at this stage. The sounder they had the constitution of the body the better would lx the les.-on to the smaller bodies which might want to come in within their time, tf they lost this clause, then they shut out everyone, and only left in existence the four large centres and those brought in under the operations of the Act of last year. Rather than sacrifice the clause and his present proposal to reduce the limit to 2000, lie thought members should sec how it worked, leaving tho smaller places to come in in their time.

Mr. Field's amendment was carried by 32 votes to 20.

Thereupon the Minister reported progress on the Bill, with a view to giving further consideration to it.