Fire Brigade Sqabbles.

Hastings Standard, Volume III, Issue 865, 8 March 1899, Page 3

Fire Brigade Sqabbles.

THE INSULTING TICKET. TRACING THE AUTHOR. A LIVELY DISCUSSION. APOLOGY OR RESIGNATION ? A QUESTION OF ACCOUNTS. When the officers were reporting at the meeting of the Hastings Fire Brigade on Friday evening, Captain Brausche asked Lieutenant George if he had anything to report. Lieutenant George : Nothing.

Captain Brausche : Absolutely nothing. Well, I have. I see the Treasurer is not here. He has not been here for months. I want to know ' t the Bank balance is. George : I fiave it here. Captain Brausche : I don't want your statement. I want the Bank book. I have not seen it since September. But we'll deal with that later. The Captain then began to unfold some correspondence, which he intended reading, when Secretary George rose to a point of order. Captain Brausche : Sit down, Sir, I have the floor ! Secretary George : I won't sit down. I rise to a point of order. Captain Brausche : You sit down ! Secretary George: I want to ask the members a question. Captain Brausche (heatedly): Sit down, or I'll see if we can't make you. Secretary George : I want to ask the members and visitors if it is usual to read correspondence which affects individuals without first giving them notice- l#ppeal to Mr Hunt. Mr Hunt : I prefer not to give an opinion. Secretary George : I appeal to Mr Vile. Mr Vile : The matter should be one for the Brigade. It should be decided either by the rules, or by usage. Captain Brausche said they were dealing with officers' reports, and he was reporting as an officer. Secretary George still protested, and cited a case in connection with the School Committee and Education Board. ' - , . , Engineer Livesay : He are not dealing with the School Committee, we are dealing with the Brigade now. Chief Engineer Jones thought no member should be ashamed to hear any correspondence read. Secretary George : I'm not afraid of anything. But I've heard of this business before. There was a hole and corner meeting last night. It's strange there are so many visitors to-night. _ Captain Brausche said he had invited rtebody to be present. Secretary George remarked upon the number of representatives of the Press who were present. Mr Hunt: I was invited to be present by Mr George. Captain Brausche then proceeded to cead the correspondence from the Kapier and Hastings Borough Councils on the ouestion of the condition of the steam fire engine when it returned to Napier and the attaching of a card bearing insulting words. The Hastings Council asked for a report. _ Captain Brausche (holding up the objectionable ticket): I am not responsible for this. It is signed " Hastings Volunteer Fire Brigade. I did not give instructions for this to be sent. Secretary George : Then who did ? Captain Brausche : Yon know all about it, my man. Secretary George : You need not get excited. , , . Captain Brausche considered that the man who wrote that ticket had insulted the Brigade and deserved to be kicked out. It rested with the Brigade'to deal with the matter. .He then handed round the objectionable ticket. Councillor Hughes, as a member of the Fire Brigade Committee of the Borough Council, regretted that his colleague, Dr Lincey, was not present. He wished the Brigade to deal with this matter seriously, as the Council intended • taking serious steps. The Council had done its utmost for the Brigade, and considering its overdraft ii had been most liberal in its contributions. He intended asking the Council to appoint a third member to the Fire Brigade Committee. He had j not been a regular attendant at the | Brigade meetings himself, but in future j he intended to be more regular. The | Council intended taking a firm hand j in this busines*. _ j Engineer Livesay said it was stated in the' report to the Council that \ the engine was dirty when it was returned. He granted this was so. _ But be had been engaged with Engineer Jones on their own engine and had not time to attend to the Napier engine before it was sent away. Further, the engine was sent away without being inspected by an officer of the Brigade. It wm stated in the paper that the plunger was up. He was not aware that "this was calculated to injuriously affect the engine. They could not get the plunger of their own engine down. Had the Napier engine not been taken away when it was, he would have had it thoroughly cleaned. Chief Engineer Jones endorsed the remarks of Engineer Livesay. They were too busy with their own engine to inspect the Napier engine. He did not know that there was anything wrong with the latter engine. The grievance appeared to him to be in connection with the ticket. The matter had been brought before a previous meeting, and it was recognised that these was some difficulty in tracing the culprit, The writing of the ticket might have been intended for a joke, bat wn it was signed " Hastings VolarScer Fire Brigade" it became serious. He was only sorry that the member of the Fire Brigade who saw the ticket did not remove it. Captain Brausche : Caretaker illiams knows something about this. Caretaker Williams: I saw the ticket on the engine, and Lieutenant George told me he put it there. Captain Brausche : That settles it. j move that somebody else takes, the minutes whilst this member defends fcimself.

Secretary George said he did not like ;!:•■• way in wLich this business bad been brought on. He had for ' 11 years been a member of this ISriga Je. lie was one of the first i»!".!■"' -ineti, and bad always endeavored to maintain order in the Brigade. He would like to ask Captain Bran?ebe if the engine wag sent away by bis authority.

Captain Brausche: I decline to answer.

Secretary George : If there "13 no answer I cannot go on. I am prepared to clear this matter up in a few minutes.

Captain Brausche: Perhaps you authorised the engine to be removed, I did not, for I was away. I was informed that Mr Cook ordered its return.

Secretary George: That is not the question. I ask, did you authorise its removal"?

Captain Brausche: I decline to answer.

Engineer Livesay did not think it mattered much who authorised its removal.

Caretaker Williams said Mr Cook told him to get the engine ready for removal.

Secretary George : I ask did Captain Brausche authorise its removal. C'antain Brausche : The officer in charge did not. Secretary George : Then you're the officer in charge. We look to you. Captain Brausche : That's not the question. Who wrote this ticket "? That's what we want to know.

Secretary George said hio point was that the engine had been removed under instructions from a Borough official, and not by the authority of the Brigade. Had it been removed by the authority of the Brigade it would have been sent away in a proper condition. He admitted writing the ticket, but did not admit putting it on the engine. Captain Brausche : The caretaker saw you put it on. Secretary George : He does not say so. You say so. Captain Brausche : At anyrate yo;i told him you put it on.

Secretary George : You have his word against mine. There was nothing in the ticket. It was addressed to the engine, and not to any individual. It was put on merely as a joke. Probably the people were not educated enough to appreciate the joke. The engine had broken down when in use, and members had spoken very strongly about it. He did not intend to insult anybody with the ticket. Councillor Hughes had said the Borough Council bad°done a great deal for the Brigade. What had been done was at his (Secretary George's) instance. He had fought the whole thing, and they now got°on well together. He saw no necessity to create trouble row over a trivial little thing. The words on the ticket could be construed to have different meanings. . The whole thing had arisen through the engine being removed by a Borough official without the authority of the officers of the Brigade. Mr Cook was responsible. If be (Secretary George) had done arything to hurt anybody's feeling he was quire ptepered to apologise. That's all an Englishman could do. Failing that, they could fight, and he was quite prepared to fight. Foreman Humphrey thought the best way out of the difficulty was for the writer of the ticket to apologise through the local papers to the Brigades and Councils. A member : When should the apology appear? Foreman Humphrey: To-morrow. Secretary George : If this will settle the matter" I will apologise. Councillor Hughes suggested that the minutes of the proceedings be taken down. Foreman Anderson was appointed to take the minutes. Foreman Humphrey;: I propose that the writer of the ticket be asked to apologise in the three papers. Secretary George: by not the four ? Branch man Kessel seconded the resolution. Secretary George (to Cr. Hughes) : Will that be sufficient ? Cr. Hughes: Speaking personally, I do not think so. Captain Brausche: It all depends upon the apology. Lieutenant George might make it one of ridicule. We al! know him.

Secretary George: I have never been known to shuffle. I am prepared to let Mr Hunt, or the Captain, or any officer write the apology. Foreman Humphrey : Perhaps Mr Vile would write it. Mr Vile : I would rather not.

Secretary George pointed out tnat ibeir rules only allowed them to 3eal with brigadesmen when on duty. When this ticket was written, he was not on duty. They could not, therefore, require an apology. Captain Brausche: A fireman is always on duty. Engineer Livesay said that the signing of Hastings \ olunteer lire Brigade" to the ticket made it a brigade matter.

Chief Engineer Jones thought the matter a serious one. lie asked what the Council expected if they would not accept an apology. Councillor Hughes : Speaking personally an apology will not be sufficient. Ido not know what the Council will do.

Captain Bra-r-ehe asked what they wcyilddo if St-mtary George refused to apologise. Secretary George : I have already agreed to apologise. Chief Engineer Jones said that he had heard outside the Brigade that the only thing that would satisfy the Council was the expulsion or resignation of the writer of the ticket. It rested with Secretary George to say what he would do.

Captain Brausche said that in conversation with the Mayor the latter had said the best thing to do was to get rid of the offending member. Secretary George- : 1 see no necessity to repeat what is said outside. Captain Brausche : This is a Brigade matter. Chief Engineer Jones said his remarks had been based upon what had fallen from Cr Hughes. He did not know what the effect would be if they did not expel Secretary George. If

he were in Secretary George's place he would resign. Foreman Anderson thought the Council must haye something more than this behind.

Cr Hughes said it had not. Mr Jones had put the matter very clearly. Foreman Anderson was of opinion that a lot more bad been made out of this matter than was necessary.

Fore-man Humphrey considered that the joke was a practical one which was an insult to the whole .Brigade. If the writer was willing to apologise it seemed hard to kick him out. , This was not the first practical joka that had been played, and probably it would not be the last. If the Council did not accept the apology they could take further steps. .Engineer; Livesay : My opinion is that the man who wrote that note should be asked to resign. Chief Engineer Jones then moved as an amendment that Lieut. George be asked to resign. Engineer Livesay seconded. Foreman Keith asked how many members were required to expel another.

Captain Brausche :'A majority of those present. Secretary George: They cannot. Read your rules. I know them. Captain Brausche then referred to the rules.

Secretary George said the Brigade had no say in the matter. They could not expel him for anything he did when not on duty. They should wait and see what the Council wculd do. Chief Engineer Jones said that after hearing the rules he thought they had 110 power to expel Secretary George. Engineer Livesay : If we have no power to expel, then we have no power to call for an apology. Secretary George asked that the resolution regarding an apology be put. Engineer Livesay: You say we have no power to deal with anything done off duty. Then we have nothing to do with an apology. Secretary George : There's no good trying to shuffle out of it. A member suggested amending the rules.

Secretary George was agreeable to this, but said it could not affect the present case. If the Brigade was offended, he would apologise to it. Foreman Humphrey thought they should submit the apology to the Council, and see what was done with it.

Fireman Donovan would like to know if this Brigade was satisfied with an apology ? A lengthy discussion then took place as to the form of the apology. Eventually the motion regarding an apology was put and carried. It was decided that the apology be framed to the satisfaction of the officers and be sent to the Council before being advertised.

THE QUESTION OF ACCOUNTS

Captain Brausche said there was another little matter he would like to bring up. He would like a report from Engineer Leipst concerning the Conference.

Engineer Leipst said this appeared to be a night of unpleasant business. He had a little unpleasant business to briiig forward. He had proceeded to Queenstown as a delegate of this Brigade, and he acted as a delegate up to a certain point. "When he was in Conference be asked for his long service medal. He had repeatedly asked for it, and was told by Secretary George before leaving that he was entitled to it and it was naid for. When he reached Queenstown the Secretary of the Association told him he was not entitled to it. He then asked that a Committee be I set up to investigate the matter. This ] was done. Mr Gilberd read several letters before the Committee which convinced him (Engineer Leipst) that he was not entitled to the medal. The roll showed that he had not been a member during 189f>-J)P>, and the correspondencejshowed that a cheque for £2 9s, forwarded by Secretary George to pay for the medals, had credited to the Brigade by the Association. He discovered that some £lO was owing by theßrigade to the Assci ation. Under the rules he was therefore not entitled to be present as a delegate at Conference. He was there under suffrance. Secretary Gilberd had received certain letters from Secretary George, and in one of these there was a disparaging reference to their Captain and the Brigade. He had asked Secretary Gilberd for a copy of the correspondence, and had coiaiaed it. (Captain Brausche : Read it out). Engineer Leipst said he he had not been aware that was owing by the Brigade to the Association, and he was sure other members were not or tbey would not have sent him to the Conference. He then read certain letters written by Secretary George to Secretary Gilberd. When he (Engineer Leipst) was made aware of the pontion, he *vired to Captain Brausche to atk if £lO was owing. He received replies which put him personally right ir :bc eyes of the Conference. He was not pleased at the report of the Committee of the Association, agd when he heard that £lO was owing he felt like falling through the floor. He would like an explanation from the Secretary. Secretary George said that the I whole of the money passed for payment had been forwarded to the "Association.

Engineer Leipst: Hut why did you wire to Conference when it was sitting that you were sending a cheque for £ 1 10s, if everything had been paid '? Secretary George replied that the money had been paid. Engineer Livesay asked when the £7 10s due to the Association for goods procured in Auckland had been passed for payment ? Captain Brausche: In November last.

Engineer Livesay : Has that money been paid"? Captain Brausche : Apparently not till a few days ago. The Captain then explained what had transpired. When he saw the telegram from Engineer Leipst, be enquired from Secretary George where the money had gone. He would now like to know what had come of the money ? He went to the bank, and

they said they had not seen the bank book since October.

Secretary George : The bank-book is not my property, It belongs to the Treasurer.

Captain Brausche: Tbe Treasurer says you have it. I have not see ait for months. There is something the matter with the whole thing, and it should be put right. Captain Brausche then read a letter, received from Secretary Gilberd in February, making a demand for the money owing. lie bad spoken to Secretary George, and the latter said the money had been paid. At this stage Secretary George moved that the matter be taken in committee. He saw that the Press was taking full notes. This w r as a private matter, and he could explain. Engineer Leipst said one side had been made public, and they should give publicity to both.

An amendment that the discussion be open to the Press was carried. Captain Brausche said be felt very sorry for the position in which Engineer Leipst had been placed. When Engineer Leipst returned from Queenstown he enquired the facts, and then wrote Secretary Giiberd, asking how much money was owing, how much had been paid during the last twelve months, and whether it had been paid by the Brigade or George's cheques. He had received a reply which stated that on Fedruary 11th last George had sent one of his own cheques for £3, and on February 25th another for £4 10s. There was now £2 lis owing. Engineer Leipst: A cheque for £7 10s was passed by the Brigade in November and signed. Where has it got to ? Perhaps the Secretary can tell usCaptain Brausche said that under the rules all moneys were to be paid by cheque. Secretary George said that members must know that when accounts were passed they could not all be paid with one cheque. The cheque could either be paid into an account and single cheques drawn, or it could be cashed. Some times after the accounts were passed he could not get the signatures of the Captain and Treasurer for weeks. He had private business with Mr Giiberd, and he had asked the latter to credit the Association with money owing to him (George). Captain Brausche: Why was the £7 10s not paid when it was passed ? Secretary George : I have just explained. if you are business men you must know that if a man owes you money you would not pay him. Besides, there is a committee to deal with accounts. W T hy has it not met ?

Captain Brausche : I want to know what became of the cheque for £7 10s. Secretary George : I'm sure I don't know. He expressed the opinion that this was a trick of Secretary Gilberd, who was always opposed to the Hastings Brigade. Engineer Leipst : If Secretary George says there was nothing owing by the Brigade, why did he forward £4 10s when the Conference was sitting"? Secretary George : Because I wanted to get £0 10s. Captain Brausche said he was not satisfied with the explanation. The Brigade money should" not be mixed up with private business. He asked why the £7 10s was not paid when it was drawn. Chief Engineer Jones said this was a very serious matter, and should be further investigated.

After considerable discussion it was decided that Messrs Beilby and Tickner be asked to audit the accounts and that Secretary Giiberd be asked to attend a special meeting to be called by tbe Captain to go fully into the matter.

The meeting terminated a few minutes before eleven o'clock.