The Bruce Herald. "Nemo me impune lacesset." TOKOMAIRIRO, MAY 21, 1886.

Bruce Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 1751, 21 May 1886, Page 3

The Bruce Herald. "Nemo me impune lacesset." TOKOMAIRIRO, MAY 21, 1886.

The Legislative Council opened its proceedings with something so decidedly practical that we cannot but hope that it may be regarded as the key-not« of the whole session for both Chambers. The Hon. Mr Scotland gave notice of his intention to more : " That a supply of hot meals within Parliamentary Buildings is unnecessary, and that therefore the kitchen at Bellamys be abolished." It may be a mere coincidence, but it is certainly rather remarkable that such a reform should be initiated by a legislator bearing the name of Scotland. Doubtless the honorable gentleman is quite agreeable that legislators should enjoy such refreshment as is necessary, but is very properly averse to the sacred precincts of Parliament being degraded into a mere banquetting chamber, where the representatives of the people revel in unwonted luxuries in the interests of their bleeding country. Mr Scotland will probably, if his resolution is carried, immediately table another to the effect that members be refreshed and stimulated with periodical supplies of porridge, with Athol brose for an occasional change and treat. There are possibly some who will sneer at the honorable gentleman's motion, and set it down as another specimen of the childishness of the ancient gentlemen who vegetate in the Upper Chamber. But this will be a great mistake. We regard it as a proper method of initiating a grand retrenchment policy which will regenerate the country, lift it out of the rut and send it spinning along on the high road to prosperity. It is in principle that taking care of the pence which if the old saw be true will be inevitably followed by the greater safety of the pounds. Heads of departments, Ministers when thinking over their pet schemes for getting new loans and carrying out big works, private members when thinking about their own little axes which want grinding, will all remember the Parliamentary soup kitchen, and, mingled with their sighs after the flesh pots of Egypt which they have voluntarily abandoned, will be the remembrance of the retrenchment policy they have so nobly initiated, and they will proceed to act upon the principle with which they started, and the national expenditure will partake of the economical character of that prevailing in the legislative kitchen. Furthermore, they will set to the whole country a much-needed example of thrift. The spectacle of the House of Lords and the House of Commons adjourning from their arduous labors — not to turtle soup, quail on toast, venison, and other delicacies, but to simple porridge, washed down with perhaps a very wee donal o' Grlenlivet, will be a spectacle which while angels may gaze upon with wonder, the rank and file of New Zealanders will behold to profit. Every mother's son of us will partake of our simple fare with increased gratitude and content when we know that our senators are no better fed. And we are inclined to the opinion that the whole character of our legislation will be affected by this change of diet. The Bible says that " when Jeshurun waxed fat he kicked," and we all know what a disastrous effect meat had upon Oliveb Twist and his poor friends in the workhouse. It may therefore be confidently expected that under the influence of porridge there will be fewer no-confidence motions, and ebullitions of temper, that honorable members will not be so disposed to lengthen out the session by talking against time, and that generally speaking all things will be conducted with decency and order. The effect of such mild and wholesome diet cannot be otherwise than beneficial, and we look forward to the work of the present session with much interest, and more of hopeful expectation than we have felt regarding any session for years past.

It would be going somewhat too far to confidently assert that had there been a Fire Brigade existent in Milton the total destruction of Mr M'G-ill's flour mill might have been averted. So far as we can gather, nothing short of the presence en the spot at the moment the fire was discovered of a number of men, with suitable appliances, could have saved the building and its contents. Still it is marvellous what proper organisation will effect, and it is just possible that thousands of pounds worth of valuable property would have been rescued from the flames if there had been such an organisation as ought to exist in every town and village in the country. Surely some effort will be made to establish a Fire Brigade now. It need be neither elaborate nor costly. Just a few men banded together who will be ready to turn out when an alarm is raised, and will know exactly what to do when occasion for their services arises. A few buckets placed where they can be found when wanted, and a knowledge by each man of -every place in the town where water" is to be had, would go a long way on the occasion of a fire. The Borough of Mornington bears in one respect a striking resemblance to the Borough of Milton. There was at one time a Fire Brigade

there, so there waß in Milton. It has been allowed to become disorganised and drop out of existence; so was the Milton Brigade. There is an engine and some hose. "We hare an engine, but unfortunately it is of little use, and there does not appear to be any hose. For want of a Eire Brigade, two children were burned to death at Mornington the other day. Let us hope that here the resemblance may stop, and that it may never bo said that human life has been sacrificed in Milton because the men of the town were too apathetic and indifferent to organise a Fire Brigade. It must not be forgotten, however, that we are absolutely unprovided with any means whatever for dealing with an outbreak of fire. There is nothing to be done but to let it burn itself out. Nothing more could be done even where the houses and business premises are in tne closest proximity. We fear that similar culpable carelessness exists in most small towns in the country. We suggest that some member introduce this session a short bill amending the Municipal Corporations and Town Boards Acts, making it compulsory on all Borough Councils and Town Boards to make sufficient provision for grappling with fire. The cost would be trifling compared with the advantage, and we are not sure that the trifle of additional rate which would have to be collected to meet expenses would not be more than compensated by reductions Insurance Companies might see their way clear to make in premiums in of the lessened risks.