THE FIRE BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2756, 10 March 1910, Page 7

THE FIRE BOARD.

ADVERSELY CRITICISED BY THE MAYOR. At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council the vexed question of who should attend to the fire .plugs in the Borough was advanced a further stage by the receipt of a legal opinion from Messrs Clirisp and Coleman, who stated that the responsibility of attending to the fire, plugs' rested not upon the Fire Board hut upon the Council. The announcement was received with indignation by the Mayor, who said lie was more and more, coming to the opinion that the Fire Board was no use to the Borough. It had left the Council with many expenses, which they had thought they would not have, and, niorevoer, the Boftrd was spoiling one of the Council’s best reserves. He felt that the time would •come before long when the Council would find it necessary to . disband the Fire Board. There had been no saving, but quite the reverse. Before the Fire Board was in control the Council’s quota for fire prevention purposes amounted to £lO2, now it was '£2l6. There was no increased efficiency, and the Fire Board seemed to act in a manner hostile to the Council and against the interests of the Borough. However, as the legal position was that they must alsti attend to the fire plugs, they had better do so. Cr. Clayton said a detailed statement of, the financial aspect would be advisable. There certainly seemed to be force in His Worship's arguments. To Cir. Collins the Mayor said that on the Fire Board the Council’s representatives were outvoted and had practically no say. The Board was practically run by the insurance people. However, he had no wish at the present juncture to press the issue of disbanding the Board, although this course had already .been found necessary in some of the larger cities.

Some of the Councillors suggested that possibly more money had 'been

spent on equipment for the 'brigade than under the old regime. It was decided that the Engineer be instructed to attend t'o the fire plugs, the Mayor remarking that it would involve an additional expense of about. IiOO.