ST. KILDA FIRE BRIGADE

Evening Star, Issue 16347, 13 February 1917, Page 3

ST. KILDA FIRE BRIGADE

AN UNJUST REPORT

LETTER BEFORE. THE COUNCIL,

MAYOR STEAKS OUT,

Prior to commencing tiro ordinary business at the meeting of tin St. Kilda ilorourii Council last night., tho Mayor (Hr W. T M'Furlanc) said he desired" to refer to a report which had beru circulated recently relative to the attitude taken by tho St. Kilda Brigade respecting a firo which broke out on the South Dunedin side of Bay View road. It had been stated that the action of tin brigade on that occasion had been both, careless and indifferent, H 0 was in a posh tion to say that the brigade had turned out promptly, with the result that good workhad been done. In consequence of this malicious report he had asked the captain of the brigade to supply a full report concerning tho fire. Tho Town Clerk then read the following report from Captain C. A. Lucas;—“Tho brigade received a call about 10.15 n.m. on Friday to attend a fire in Bay' View road. We hal a smart turn out, and on getting to Parker's corner wo met tho South Dunedin Brigade, who had received a previous call. The latter informed us that the firo was on their side of tho borough, so I got off the motor with my men and assisted them to get tho water -m. Tho South Dunedin men could not find their fire plug, so I opened the pinion our side and told them they could make uso of it, which allowed thorn to get the wuter on without any delay. My men gave wdiat assistance they could in ether directions. Foreman Sharp war, on the branch with one of tho South Dunedin men, and within five minifies of getting tho water the fire was practically out. It was only necessary to have one lead of water .which did nob heed many men to work. I asked Lieutenant Johnson, of South Dunedin, if I could ho of any fureher help Ic him, and he said ho could manage. I then returned to the station with the motor.' 1

The Mayor went, on to state that there were a few people m the borough who would libel their own mothers, and if they though;, they could injure the tire brigade thov would go to any length io do so. It. was absolutely wicked far any person to circulate a report such as that he had referred to. The brigade gave their services voluntarily, and it, was too bad for the members to be maligned in tho way they had! been. Cr Clark said that the protest should be made much stronger. He had boon out with tho brigade one day recently, and they had worked splendidly. " He considered that the report had been circulaiccl in con-sequcnce of the brigade failing to turn out to attend a recent, lire in tho lupines. Cr Kilpatrick said ho was the councillor who had reported the manor to the mayor. Tho story being spread about, was to tho effect that tho foreman look Ids men to the fire, and that they refused to turn to, and tho foreman said: “If you will not him io a ?„ firemen, perhaps you will- as men.’' Cr Kilpatrick said his sympathies were with the brigade.

Cr Campbell said lie was at the, fire in question, and the brigade to a man had worked just as though it had been in the borough.

Cr Dove said ho thought (ho report had been circulated by somemie connected with the question of amalgamation.

The Mayor said that the report from the. eaptain of the brigade spoke for itself. The brigade were clear of any biamo, and deserved the highest praise for iljc smart manner in which it had turned nut. The council would stand by the brigade when s-m-h unfounded and wicked reports were circulated.