DEVONPORT'S FIRE BRIGADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 53, 4 March 1925, Page 11

DEVONPORT'S FIRE BRIGADE.

ANOTHER COUNCIL BREEZE. The smoke and dust of a previously fougtht battle once again intruded itself into the deliberations of the Devonport Borough Council last evening. The Works Committee recommended that tenders should be called for a fire brigade station on plans prepared. The Mayor and two members of the committee dissented from the recommendation which had been carried on the chairman's. casting vote, and at last night's meeting the Mayor juslified this action on tiie grounds that the architects' estimate of £3300 on tie plans prepared exceeded the money available under the loan proposals, by £000. and only provided fir •an unfinished building. He reviewed 'the raising of the loin of £2000 for the purpose, and the previous rejection of tenders on the grounds of ost, and produced the minmte which deferred consideration of the matter for e : gh't month? from Ootol>er last.

Mr. Bartley pointed out thflrt the council could rarse ten per cent on its loan allocation, which, with the £600 collected by the brigade, would bring the funds available to nearly £3400. He objected to the matter being referred to the incoming council.

The Mayor: You seconded my motion which so deferred it.

Mr. Bartley: I consider you misled the council in that recommendation. Your opposition is simply because you favour the Church Street site.

The Mayor: I certainly do support the Church Street location, and for reasons which I am prepared to substantiate , on tihe public p'atform. My main objection to the present proposition is, liowever. 'because the architects wete authorised to prepare plans for a building to cost £2750, and they have largely exceeded that estimate in providing in these plans for ah unfinished building which will probably cost another £1500 to complete. The ratepayers' interests must be considered, as well as those of the brigade.

Messrs. Ba.rtley and Perry Taylor spoke at length in favour of the acceptance of the plan, and ultimately, by five votes to four it was decided to call tenders for the work.