AUXILIARY FIREMEN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 320, 6 October 1908, Page 8

AUXILIARY FIREMEN.

Sir,—l wish to point out ail incident which happened last Wednesday, night. . I saw several firemen carrying their uniforms, and on inquiry I learnt that they were the auxiliary firemen.;,who were taking their uniforms in, as they were resigning from the brigade on account of their pay being reduced from £15 to £7 10s., and I do not blarno them for the step they took. As the majority of tkeso nien mere from Newtown, 1 would like'to ask the City Fathers what are they going to do to protect our property in Newtown.. There will not bo sufficient men to cope with a big fire, as there are only three or four permanent men in Newtown. Of course, the fire engine may come from the city, but it might break down and never get there, as it has done on several occasions. Sir, to show the need of auxiliary firemen, I wish to point'out the fire in' Roy Street a few weeks ago. The men in the locality of Donald\ M'Lean Street reel station, on hearing the bell ringing, at once jumped from their beds, dressed, got their reel out, and had the fire out before the Newtown men got there, which was a credit to them. Now, if such a thing occurs again, there will be no men available, and I think that had the council given these men who have left good pay for their services then we would have had a good brigade and no cause for complaint. Superintendent O'Brien also told his men that Newtown was nothing, and he did not depend on that place, but I wish to point out to him that it is an absurd thing to say, as nearly all buildings in Newtown are'wooden, and the thickest residential part, and covers a very large area. Now, sir, if such a thing is going to; continue, then I ask the citizens of Newtown to read the notice board in the Kent Terrace Reserve, where it says: "Citizens, protect your own property."—l am, etc., RATEPAYER. October 5.