ALL ABOUT THAT THIRTY SHILLINGS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 293, 9 April 1897, Page 4

ALL ABOUT THAT THIRTY SHILLINGS.

[To the Editor.] Sir —I can hardly understand what two writers in your paper (one calling himself Brauseh and the other Kingswell) are driving at about a sum of 30s which it is said Brauseh paid out of his mm jioc/.-rt to Ivingswell for doing certain work for the Fire Brigade, unless it is to mislead the public into supposing that Brauseh is a loser to the extent of 80s. The facts of the case as I learn on inquiry are these : Ivingswell repaired the manual at a cost of 80s, and being short of funds, like most people in Hastings, asked Brauseh (who is one of the local millionaires) to advance him the money and collect it from the Brigade. This was done, and when the claim was put in Brauseh got the Brigade cheque- for the amount. I don't see any great stretch of plilanthropy in this, or any reason for misleading the public into supposing that Brauseh has lost 80s." I do not intend to go into the matter of a manual brigade of paid men just now because any ordinary thinking man must see that the idea is ridiculous. Anyone of experience who was asked to choose, say between pumping at the manual (which with the proper complement of men is merely child's play) and holding a branch on nights such as the firemen have had to do on many occasions, would have no difficulty in choosing a dry and warm job at 2s 6d or 5s an hour against a wet and dangerous one for nothing. I think arrangements between the Council and the Five Brigade are gradually settling on a sound basis, and fail to see that such letters as the two I have referred to are likely to have any good effect, but rather the other way. —I am, &c., Tex Bob.