LANSDOWNE AND FIRES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 15 October 1913, Page 5

LANSDOWNE AND FIRES.

DEPUTATION TO COUNTY COUNCIL. A SERIOUS POSITION. : A deputation from Masterton Fire Board, consisting of Messrs O. Prag- 1 nell, H. O'Leary, J. C. Ewington and the secretary (Mr R. Brown) waited upon the Masterton County Council yesterday in suppo'tof an application for assistance towards providing fire protection at Lansdowne. Mr Pragnell pointed out that the Masterton Fire Brigade attended fires at Lansdowne, where there were a large number of houses; but the Superintendent had no statutory powers. Under the Counties Act the County Council had the power, to enter into an agreement with the Fire Board. • It was suggested that the County Council should provide fire alarms, and assist the Board financially. The Board; was seriously considering whether it would not be compelled to refuse the services of the Fire Brigade outside the borough, tinless it was indemnified against legal proceedings. A radius might be fixed round the borough, which would be attended by the Brigade, provided the Council contributed towards the cost and appointed the Superintendent a Fire Inspector. , Mr Ewington suggested that the County Council might provide a small equipment of hose, etc, at Lansdowne. The Board was very anxious to be of service to the whole of the district for the protection of property against fire. The chairman of the Council (Or Welch) pointed out that the Council was in a somewhat unfortunate position. The County was divided into Ridings, and the Opaki Riding, in which Lansdowne was situated, extended as far as Mauriceville and the Miki Miki. The outlying ratepayers were already complaining of the expenditure that was being made on footpaths, etc., at Lansdowne. The Counties Act was defective, in that it made no provision for striking separate rates over special portions of a Cr Weldi, in the circumstances, did not held out any hope! that the request of the deputation would be granted. Mr Pragnell said; that the natural deduction from the chairman's remarks was that Lansdowne' should come into the borough. He asked the Council to give earnest consideration to the request of the deputation. Cr Welch stated, that in his opinion, nothing could be done until the Counties Act was amended. He suggested that the time had ai rived when She people of Lansdowne should consider the desirability of either joining the borough, or forming a Town Board. —(Hear, hear.) Mr Pragnell urged the unfairness of asking small meu at Lansdowne to contribute towards the cost of the fire service, in the event of a fire, "while residents of the borough obtained the service free. The deputation then thanked the Council, and withdrew, Several Councillors expressed the opinion that nothing could be done to meet the request of the deputation, and it was decided, on the motion of Cr Foreman, that the Council cannot see its way clear to accede to the request. It was also decided that Mr G. R. Sykes, M.P., be communicated with, and asked to endeavour to" secure an a mendment of the Counties Act, to permit County Councils to strike sep- " arate rates within Ridings.