NEW FIRE BRIGADE STATION.

Evening Star, Issue 20254, 15 August 1929, Page 2

NEW FIRE BRIGADE STATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The public of Dunedin is naturally proud of the now and lino buildings which have recently been erected in various parts of the city, but there is one projected building which will in volve a considerable amount of public expense, and tho necessity for which should bo clearly explained before anything further is done. I refer to the proposed new Fire Brigade station. 1 understand that after the present station was completed in 1910 tho growth of our fire-fighting requirements began to exceed tbo space available at the present building. Surely this fact in itself shows a deplorable lack of foresight on someone’s part. The board apparently then approached, tho owners of a vacant adjacent property with Hie idea of extensions to make room for married men’s quarters, etc. At that time the property 7 was not available at a- reasonable price. Now, however, I believe tho adjacent property may he purchased at a considerably reduced figure, and I think tho public shout, be informed on the following points:— (1) Why should a comparatively new building, specially designed and equipped as a fire station, have to be abandoned when it is still in a firstclass state of preservation P (2) How much has been paid for tbo new site? i 3) How much is tho estimate for the new building? (4) What proportion of the above two items is borne by the public? (5) Is not tho adjacent property ample in size for many years? (0) What is proposed to be done with tho existing building, and in tho event of soiling it what is-the estimated value? (7) What is the present price of tho adjacent property, and how much, roughly, would the required additions and alterations cost? In conclusion, unless there are certain facts which are not apparent to tho layman, _ the existing building should bo easily altered or added to, tho new site used for another purpose or sold, and a considerable expense would thus bo saved from our cveriucronsing public indebtedness. I have no interest in the adjoining property or in the new sit.e.—l am, etc., Ecoxojiy. August 15.