3766
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 86

The Wairoa Fire Board No. 1 By-law.

Department of Internal Affairs,
Wellington, 1st December, 1930.

THE following by-law, made by the Wairoa Fire Board, is published in accordance with the Fire Brigades Act, 1926.

P. A. DE LA PERRELLE,
Minister of Internal Affairs.

THE WAIROA FIRE BOARD.

IN pursuance and exercise of the powers vested in it in that behalf by section 60 of the Fire Brigades Act, 1926, and of every other power enabling it in that behalf, the Wairoa Fire Board hereby makes the following by-law :—

1. The Short Title of this by-law is the Wairoa Fire Board By-law No. 1.

2. In this by-law, except where repugnant to or inconsistent with the context, or where otherwise expressly provided,—

“ The Act ” means the Fire Brigades Act, 1926, and its several amendments, or other the Act or Acts for the time being in force in substitution therefor, and includes all regulations of the Governor-General in Council made thereunder respectively :

“ Board ” means the Wairoa Fire Board :

“ By-law ” or “ by-laws ” shall mean all or any by-laws of the Board for the time being in force made under the provisions of the Act or of any Act or authority enabling the Board to make by-laws :

“ The Inspector ” shall mean any person for the time being appointed by the Board to carry out the powers, duties, and discretions given by this by-law to the Inspector :

“ The Superintendent ” and “ the Deputy Superintendent ” mean the Superintendent of Fire Brigades and the Deputy Superintendent of Fire Brigades for the Wairoa Fire District for the time being appointed by the Board under the authority of the Act :

“ The District ” means, applies to, and includes the Wairoa Fire District as now constituted under the authority of the Act :

“ Station ” means, includes, and applies to every building or place in which any of the plant or property of the Board shall for the time being be kept :

“ Station-keeper ” means the person for the time being placed in charge of any station by the Board or by any officer thereof :

“ Office ” means the office for the time being of the Board :

“ Street ” means any public or private street, and includes public places or public and private rights-of-way :

“ Brigade ” or “ fire brigade ” mean, include, and apply to the Wairoa Fire Brigade and any other body of men organized for public fire-prevention purposes which the Board may at any time establish and maintain under the provisions of the Act :

“ Person ” or any words applying to any person or individual shall include a firm and also a company or corporation :

“ The Secretary ” means the Secretary for the time being of and appointed by the Board, and includes the person for the time being acting for or as the Secretary of the Board :

Words importing the singular number include the plural number, and words importing the plural number include the singular number, and words importing the masculine gender include females :

Words referring to any district fire brigade, locality, place, person, office, functionary, party, or thing shall be construed distributively as referring to each district fire brigade, locality, place, person, office, functionary, party, or thing to whom or to which the provision is applicable :

The headlines to the clauses under the several parts of this by-law or the marginal notes to any clauses of this by-law are not to effect the construction thereof respectively.

3. All Superintendents and other officers appointed by or under the authority of the Board under the Act, or under or for the purpose of any repealed by-laws, and holding office at the time of this by-law coming into operation, shall be deemed to have been appointed under this by-law.

4. Every person offending or guilty of an offence against, or committing any breach of, or failing to comply with or to perform any duty imposed on him by any of the provisions of this by-law shall, if not otherwise specially mentioned in this by-law or by statute, be liable for each such offence, breach, or failure, upon conviction, to such penalty (recoverable in a summary manner), not exceeding twenty pounds (£20), as the Court inflicting the same shall in its discretion think fit to impose.

IN RELATION TO FIRE BRIGADES.

5. All officers of brigades shall be appointed by the Board, and due consideration shall be given by the Board to the recommendation of the Superintendent in the engagement of members of the brigade and in respect of the promotion of officers or men in the Board’s services.

RANKING OF OFFICERS.

6. After the Superintendent and the Deputy Superintendent members of the brigade shall be classed as follows : Foreman, senior fireman, motorman, and fireman, and they rank according to numbers or rotation of service in their respective station.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBER OF BRIGADE.

7. Candidates for appointment must be physically strong men, free from any defect in limb, hearing, or sight, and will be required to undergo a medical examination by such legally qualified practitioners as the Board may appoint, fee to be paid by the candidate, but to be refunded by the Board after twelve months’ service. They must not be less than twenty-one (21) years of age nor more than thirty-two (32) years, unless they have been previously and recently engaged as active and efficient firemen, or are otherwise thoroughly competent. In such cases the age limit may be extended to forty (40) years. They must be able to read and write, and will be required to produce testimonials as to character and ability. They will also be required to produce certificate of birth or other satisfactory proof of age, if required.

8. Messengers may be admitted, not under the age of fifteen years, who must be physically fit, and shall be eligible to become firemen at the age of eighteen years.

MEMBERS ON APPOINTMENT TO SERVE A TERM OF PROBATION.

9. Eligible candidates, when finally approved, will be accepted as members of the brigade on probation only, the term of which shall not be less than three months. If at the end of such term the probationer shall have given satisfaction to the Superintendent and have proved himself suitable, his appointment to the brigade may be confirmed by the Board. During the probationary service the Superintendent may dispense with the service of any probationer for any cause which he (the Superintendent) shall deem sufficient.

ENGAGEMENT TERMINABLE BY BOARD WITHOUT REASON ASSIGNED.

10. All engagements or appointments made by the Board may be cancelled or annulled without any reason being assigned.

RETIRING-AGE.

11. The age at which members of the brigade shall retire from the service shall be as follows : Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent, sixty-five (65) years ; motorman and foreman, fifty-five (55) years ; firemen, fifty (50) years ; but the Board may, if it thinks fit in any special case, extend these limits for a further five years, but no more.

THE SUPERINTENDENT.

12. In addition to the powers and duties conferred and imposed by section 48 of the Act, the duties and powers of the Superintendent shall be as follows :—

(1) He shall be responsible to the Board for the efficiency of the officers and members of the brigade and all gear used in its service.

(2) He shall have the power to suspend any officer or member for breach of discipline or misconduct of any description at any time, but must at once report such suspension to the Board. The member suspended may appeal to the Board, who will hold an inquiry into the alleged breach of discipline or misconduct. At such inquiry the suspended member may be present, and have the right to speak in his defence, and if he desires bring witnesses in support of same.

(3) He shall allot such duties to the members of the brigade as he shall deem necessary for assuring the efficiency thereof, and may withdraw any member from any special duty and allot him fresh duties at his (the Superintendent’s) discretion.

(4) He shall keep a store-book in which shall be entered all property of the Fire Board, the date of purchase, and the date when it was first used and when condemned.

(5) He shall keep the service-record book, containing the names, occupations, places of birth, date of birth, dates of joining and discharge from the brigade, with awards and punishments by the Board, in proper manner.

(6) He shall perform any duty the Fire Board may from time to time assign to him.