It shall be the duty of the city attorney, upon request, to give advice to the board in all matters pertaining to its duties and the management of the fund, and to represent or defend the board in all suits and actions at law or in equity. The board shall have the authority to employ other counsel as it may see fit and to pay to them reasonable fees out of the fund.

(Acts 1947, No. 13, p. 7, § 14.)