MUNICIPAL BOARDS ACT Sanitary Boards changed to Municipal Boards · 2022 Revised Edition
8. Inquiries into fires
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
When any fire occurs within a Municipal Board area whereby damage or loss is occasioned to any dwelling-house or other building, the
Municipal Board area
“Municipal Board area” means an area subject to the control of a Municipal Board in respect of the matters provided for by this Act;
Chairman may, if he thinks fit, and shall if requested thereto in writing by two or more ratepayers, institute an inquiry into the cause of such fire and the circumstances attending the same.
Chairman
“Chairman” means the officer for the time being lawfully performing the duties of the office of Chairman of the Municipal Board, and includes a Deputy Chairman;
For the purpose of such inquiry, the Chairman shall have and may exercise all the statutory and other powers which shall for the time being be vested in and exercisable by a Magistrate for summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses, for administering oaths or affirmations to such witnesses, and for compelling such witnesses to answer all reasonable and proper questions relative to the matters which are the subject of such inquiry.
The Chairman shall within 7 days from the conclusion of such inquiry transmit to the Minister the depositions taken by him together with his finding as to the cause of the fire.
Terms defined in s 2
building
Defined · s 2“building” includes any house, hut, shed or roofed enclosure, whether used for the purpose of a human habitation or otherwise, and also any wall, gate, post, pillar, paling, frame, hoarding, slip, dock, wharf, pier, jetty, landing stage or bridge;
Chairman
Defined · s 2“Chairman” means the officer for the time being lawfully performing the duties of the office of Chairman of the Municipal Board, and includes a Deputy Chairman;
house
Defined · s 2“house” includes dwelling-house, warehouse, office and shop, also schools and any other buildings in which persons are employed;
Municipal Board area
Defined · s 2“Municipal Board area” means an area subject to the control of a Municipal Board in respect of the matters provided for by this Act;