SAFETY OF LIFE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16113, 18 January 1918, Page 6

SAFETY OF LIFE.

FIRE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD MEMBER. ALLEGATION OF PIQUE RESENTED. Superintendent Warner, in a lette* read at last night's meeting of the Fire Board, complained that a local newspaper had reported a mom be r of the Board (Mr Grierson) as saying at the last meeting that "Superintendent Warner was piqued at the foyer of Everybody's Theatre, and tho Council should renew tho license and take no notice of the recommendation." He contended that these remarks were spoken without knowledge of the position. and were unwarranted and unjust, especially in thu absenco of the officer concerned. He had no hesitation in saying that the dress circle of Everybody's could be improved by widening the'cross passage-way to o feet. Mr Hugo had statedj it wa> a dangerous dress circle. Tho, writer stated that be "welcomed honest advice and wellmeant, criticism, but loathed such unseemly methods of injustice as wero repeatedly meted out to a responsible officer as in this instance." The chairman (Mr H. Holland) said he deprecated the matter Using brought up. He had given Superintendent Warner some advice in tho matter, which, apparently, he had not thought advisable to accept. Mr H. P. Hopkins said the matter was not. ono which should be discussed in open Board. Mr H. R. Rusbridgo said he thought the fault for tho ventilation of such matters lay with the person who started them. Personally, lie thought the remark, though possibly thoughtless was in bad taste, and if such a remark had been mado about him he would not have taken it lying down. Ho was not surprised that it called forth ati answer. Mr .1. l'\ Grierson said if the Board was going to receive such a letter as that,"he would certainly resign from the Board. He narticularly objected to the suggestion that the criticism waR, dishonest, and not well meant. Mr Hopkins said he thought tho lettor should be referred back to the superintendent, who could bo asked to explain to tlio Board when he came back from his holidays. Mr Grierson said Mr Warner should be asked to withdraw the letter. Mr Rusbridgo said he did not think Mr Warner should be asked to withdraw it. It did not reflect on the Board, but merely drew attention to a remark made by a member of the Board. He moved that the letter should be received. • Tho chairman said he thought that that would be the best way out of the matter. He certainly objected to the course indicated by Mr Grierson. Mr Hopkins then moved as an amendment, and Mr G. Kerruifih seconded, that the letter be referred back to the superintendent, Mr Grierson reiterated his intention to resign if the Board did not ask the superintendent to withdraw the letter. If tho Board could not protect its members from remarks of such description from its officers, the sooner the Board was dissolved the hotter. The amendment was then put and lost, and the motion, "that the letter bo received,'' carried.