Fire Brigades (Amendment) Act 1927 (NSW)

EIEE BRIGADES (AMENDMENT)

ACT.

Act No. 4, 1927.

An Act to vary the constitution of and to enlaigc tlic powers of the 1'oard of Fire Commis- sioners of New South Wales ; to vary the proportions of contributions to the fund to ho administered by the said board; to make further provision as to the salary of the president of the board ; to amend the Fire Brigades Act, 1909, and certain other Acts ; and for purposes connected therewith. [Assented to, 29th January, 1927.] BE

T ) E it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty,
_D by and with the advice and consent of the Legis­ lative Council and Legislative Assembly of New South Wales in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :—

1 . (1) This Act may be cited as the " Eire Brigades

(Amendment) Act, 1927," and shall he read and con­

strued with the Fire Brigades Act, J909, as amended by

subsequent Acts, which said Act as so amended is in
this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(2) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Lire Brigades Act, 1909-1927.

(3) This Act shall come into operation on a date

to be appointed by the Governor and notified by
proclamation published in the Gazette.

2.    (1) The Principal Act is amended—

(a) (i) by omitting from subsection one of section seven the word " four" and inserting in lieu thereof the word " seven " ;

(ii)   by omitting from subsection two of the same section the word " Three " and inserting in lieu thereof the word " Pour " ;

(b) (i) by inserting at the end of subsection one

of section eight after the word " Governor "

the words " and shall hold office for five
years from the date of appointment " ;

(ii)  by omitting from subsection two of the same section the word " four " and inserting in lieu thereof the word " seven " ;

(c) (i) by omitting from subsection four of section

nine the words " one member " and inserting in lieu thereof the words " three members " ;

(ii)   by omitting subsection five of the same section and by inserting next after sub­ section four the following new subsec­ tions :—•

(5) One member of the board shall be elected by the members of the volunteer fire brigades. At such election each member

of such brigade shall have one vote. (5A)

(5A) One member of the board shall be elected by the permanent firemen who are members of the Fire Brigades Associa­ tion of NeAv South Wales. At such election each such member of such association shall have one vote.

(d) (i) by omitting from section twelve the words "s ix hundred pounds" and inserting in lieu thereof the words "one thousand and fifty pounds " ;

(ii)   by omitting from the same section the words " an annual salary of three hundred pounds " and inserting in lieu thereof the words " such annual salary as shall be fixed

by the Governor."

(e) by amending subsection three of section seventeen by inserting the word " two " instead

of the word " one."

(2) The members of the board in office at the commencement of this Act, including the present repre­ sentative of the volunteer fire companies or brigades, shall continue to hold office for the period for which thev were elected, and shall be eligible for re-election.

The additional representatives of the insurance com­ panies and the member to be elected by the permanent firemen to complete the board in accordance with the amendments of section nine inserted in the Principal Act by this Act, shall hold office only for the balance
of the period for which the members of the board at

such commencement were elected, and shall be eligible

for re-election.

3.    (1) The Principal Act is further amended—•

(i) by omitting from paragraph (a) of subsection two of section thirty-four the word " one-

third " and bv inserting in lieu thereof the

word " one-fourth " ;

(ii)  by omitting from paragraph (b) of the same subsection the word " one-third " and inserting in lieu thereof the words "one half" ;

(iii)   by omitting from paragraph (c) of the same subsection the word " one-third " and inserting in lieu thereof the word "one-fourth."

( 2 )

(2) The amendments made by this section shall be given effect to for the year one thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven, and for succeeding years.

4.    (1) The Principal Act is further amended—-

(a) by inserting in section twenty-one next after paragraph (k) the following new paragraphs :—

(k l ) prescribing for various classes of buildings the means to be provided to enable occupants thereof to escape from the building in case of fire, and

for the inspection and maintenance of

such means of escape;

(k2) prescribing for any building used for a purpose which in the opinion of the board is of a hazardous nature or for any building the construction or use of which is, in the opinion of the board, likely to allow the rapid spread of fire, the installation of tire alarms, sprinklers, and other devices or appliances approved by the board designed to prevent or

retard the spread of fire, and for the

inspection and maintenance of such alarms, sprinklers, appliances, and

devices;

(k3) prohibiting or regulating the storage of inflammable matter on the roof, in the basement, or in any other part of a building;

(k4) prohibiting or regulating the storage of inflammable matter in light areas or in	close proximity to any building in any
municipality or shire ;

(k5) regulating the deposit of inflammable

matter in yards or on vacant blocks of
land in any municipality or shire.

(k6) regulating the burning off of waste

inflammable matter in any municipality
or shire.

(k7) regulating the disposal of hot ashes and providing for proper receptacles for holding the same;

D (b)

(b) by inserting at the end of paragraph (1) of the same section the following words:—"or in the case of a continuing breach a penalty not

exceeding five pounds per day while the breach

continues ";

(c)	by inserting at the end of paragraph (d) of section twenty-nine the following words:— " and the expense of such pulling down or shoring up, as the case may be, shall be borne by the owner of the wall or building, and shall be paid by him to the board " ;
(d)	by inserting in the same section next after paragraph (d) the following new paragraph :—

(dl) may cause to be shut off or disconnected the supply of gas, electricity, or other illuminant to any premises adjacent thereto.

No person supplying gas or electricity or other illuminant to any premises shall be liable for any damages by reason of any interruption of the supply thereof occasioned by the exercise of this power.
Every person supplying gas or elec­ tricity or other illuminant to any premises on fire shall forthwith send

some competent person to shut off or

disconnect the supply thereof to such premises or to any premises adjacent thereto as and if directed so to do in exercise of the foregoing power;

(e) by inserting in paragraph (iv) of section forty-

two after the word "fourteen" wherever it

occurs the word sitting " ;

(f) by omitting from Schedule Two the figures

" 1 0 0 0 " opposite the words "For a floating

fire engine" and by inserting in lieu thereof the figures " 3 0 0 0 " ;
(g)	by omitting from Schedule Three the figures

" 2 0 0 0 " opposite the words "For a floating

fire engine" and by inserting in lieu thereof the figures " 3 0 0 0 " ;
(h)	by omitting from section eighteen the figures

" 1 9 0 0 " and by inserting in lieu thereof the

figures " 1 9 1 2 " ; (i)

(i)  by omitting- from section thirty-four the proviso inserted by paragraph (a) of: subsection one of section four of the Fire Brigades Amendment Act, 1910 ;

(j) by omitting from section thirty-five the figures " 1906 " wherever occurring and by inserting in lieu thereof the figures "1919."

(2) Paragraph (a) of subsection one of section four of the Fire Brigades Amendment Act, 1910, is hereby repealed.