DISSATISFIED BRIGADE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 231, 28 September 1915, Page 9

DISSATISFIED BRIGADE.

WHOLESAUE DISSENSION. JJTQUIRY TO BE HT-I.P (By /Telegraph.—Own Correspondent-) HAMILTON", this day. -\JI i« not well with the Hamilton Fire Brigade. For (several months there has binen evidence of an undercurrent of dierunt.sr.l art ion ajnongst the m<irr>bor«, which, however, has only been visible on the surface in the form of complaint* over obviously trivial matters. At a meeting of the Fire Board last night members complained of the delay by the Brigade in reaching firsts This, they undftTitood. was due to no one being prtsfat at the station when the alarms were hounded. The superintendent a report, in -which he complained of the antiquated means of fretting the reel to the ecene of a fire. The taxi-drivers refused to haul it behind their cars, and the men liad consequently to drag it, to an accompaniment of such Temarka as "Hero comes Darktown." and "Look at the Keystone brigade." Such expressions were very offensive to men who wore doing their bent under adverse conditions. They were, in fact, about eiek of it A letter »a« also received from tho secretary of the brigade suggesting a conference 'between the Board and the brigade, to discuss improvements in equipment and the grievance* of the men. "There appears to be tvhole&ale dis eension in out brigade." declared Mr Pavitt. "There ie eomothing at the root of it ail. and eotnetbing will certainly have to be done." Mr Kingston said there wae undoubtedly something underlying the whole affair. The complaints received by the Board ware not the real one*. Mr McKinnon suggested an inquiry into the whole organisation and control of the brigade by Inepcctor Hugo. Mr Kinjfeton: Inspector Hugo's reports on the local brigade have, on each occasion, been dexogitoTy. It was decided u> act on the suggestion of Mr McKinnon, to ask Inspector Hugo to conduct an inquiry.