LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 179, 24 April 1908, Page 5

LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

• ; —<> : SUPERINTENDENT HUGO AND THE CITY COUNCIL. .;At last night's meeting ..of'the City Council tho Fire Brigade Committee reported their acceptance, ■ with regret, of tho resignation of 'Superintendent Hugo from tho position of' Superintendent of the ■'Wellington Firo" Brigade, and recommended that ho bo granted l'6ui' months' leave of absence on full pay. . ' Councillor Hindmarsh moved, and Councillor Fisher seconded, ail amendment to givo Mr! Hugo two months' leave of. abseiie-j instead -olv folir. This was supported by Councillor Morrah. ' Li'the course of discussion, it was stated 'that Superintendent Hugo was already entitled to a month's holiday, and that ho had been nine years in the scrvico 6f the Council. In suppo.t oi tho amendment, it was pointed out that he was leaving 1 the Council's employ of his own accord, and would be getting an additional £150 a year in "salary. : The voting on the amendment was equal, j and Councillor- Luke (presiding in the absence of the Mayor) gave his casting vote against.-it. Councillor Fisher then moved, and Councillor M'Laren seconded, another . amendment in' favour of three months' leave. This was supported by Councillor Hindmarsh, who pointed out that Superintendent Hugo would bo taking up his new appointment. under tho Government a few days before tho threo months expired. Councillor Ballinger stated that Superintendent Hugo, was not bettering himself financially by -the change lie was about to make. Councillor Biss declared that Superintendent Hugo had been wearing himself out in the service of tho city, and he wits '-sur-i prised at the turn the debate had taken. Ho would have supported a, more generous proposal than tho Committee had made. Tho amendment (three months' leave of absence oil full pay) was carried on tho voices. Tho numerous mutually antagonistic races .who inhabit tho vast continent that'it is convenient to call India aro caged from hostile access to each other by the. bars of our rule and by tho bayonets of the staff of keepers who n.fo known .as the British Army in India. —"Frco Press," Singapore.