FIRE BRIGADES' ACT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8550, 7 October 1907, Page 5

FIRE BRIGADES' ACT.

(Contributed.)

SUGGESTED AMENDMENT.

The principal amendments suggested to be made in the Fire Brigades' Act at the recent meeting of members of the Masterton Firs Board are as follow: — (1). To provide for amending rules made under the Act by the insurance companies, so that they may elect their members to the Board of a new fire district on its constitution. (2). To provide for disqualification of members of Boards in cast; of lunacy, crime, etc. (3). To enable estimates to be made for period commencing with date of first meeting of a new Board, and ending on March 31st. (4). To increase Government payment to Boa :ds (other than those of the four cities) to one-seventh of the estimated expenditure, with a maximum of £IOO (instead of onetenth and £SO). (5). To provide that Boards shall send copies of approved estimates and statement of receipts and expenditure to the contributories when making demands for contributions. (6). To make the rating limit equal to the amount to be raised by the local authority, and to have rates leviable on land as well as buildings where rating on unimproved value is in force, or to have rates leviable only on buildings where rating on the annual value is in force. The Act at present makes only buildings liable for rates under the first system, and both buildings and land under the second system. (7). To provide that the power to borrow by way of overdraft, mortgage or debentures shall have a limit fixed. (8). To enable Boards to pay wages to custodian and secretary, and men employed on duty connected with brigades. The Act provides that only officers may be paid at present, except at fires. / (9). To enable Boards to appoint their own officers and servants and pay wages. (10). To provide for establishing, equipping and maintaining fire police and salvage corps. The Act is at present defective in this respect, and there is no provision for Boards taking over existing fire police and salvage corps or their property. (11). To define who,shall be liable for payment of charges for service of brigades at fires outside a fire district and on board ship,and mode of recovery. (12). To empower superintendents to delegate certain powers to. fire police at fires. (13). To provide for convening special meetings of Board. (14). To confer powers of superintendent on senior officer of brigade present at any fire in event of absence of both superintendent and deputy superintendent. • (15). To allow adjoining district to form part of fire district, on petition, with consent of local authorities concerned. (1,6). To provide that the area added to the jurisdiction of the local authority of a fire district shall form part of such five district by virtue of such inclusion. (17).' To provide for Board taking over leasehold land and buildings, as well as freehold land and buildings, where held for public fire prevention purposes. (18). To make better and clearer provisions for validating Boards in new fire districts where members of Board appointed and elected only in part. (19). To provide for payment of fines and penalties to the Board. (20). To provide for all moneys of Board being kept in an account at a bank, and being drawn but only by cheques in an appointed way. A number of other minor and consequential alterations are, also, suggested with a view to making the Act more workable.