CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 33, 11 February 1901, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE FIBE BRIGADE AND SATEPATER: A REPLY. To the Editor of " The Evening Mail.*, Sir,— l have to apologise for not having answered "Ratepayer's" letter of Monday ere this, but have been too occupied. For my own part I cannot understand what " Ratepayer "is driving at, and can I only surnrse. He Btartfl by Btating that tho Brigade is good and useful. That may or may not be (circumstances govern all thing*) ; but if such a statement is on ; a par with hie other statements they are I of oxtremely little worih, and totally unreliable. In the first place, the Brigade does not reoeive £22* per annum for 'npkeep from the City Council, but ' ouly J200 ; and with regard to his insinuation abont the fafe balance they must 1 or ought to have in the bank, I should imagine that, lo ase a colonial phrase, he ■ " speaks through hiß head," or which means that had he to dispense so lavish a Burn ihore would be a balance somewhere he knows best where. As the Brigade is at present situated, tbey have not the whe ewi hal to pay their way for the next quarter. Marvellous, is it not, " ratepayer"? But if yon wish to know ' more apply for your information, whatI ever it may be, and you will get it. With 1 regard to th 9 acoounts of the Brigade, they are annually audited by Mr Gully, Town Clerk, than whom I am pleased to say no man stands higher in the public confidence. What more does he requi re t With regard to the expenses of our team to Chiistohuroh being taken out 01 the Council grant, the answer is • lhe Brigade, did not think it justifiable so to do • noither icotdd the funis have permitted it. We therefore sought the assistance of the publio forlthat purpose, I whioh I have no doubt will be liberally I responded to. Anyway, he may rest I assured, they will go, by hook or by>orook, I and I hope will refleot credit ou the city. " ratepayer" may reßt aßaured that we will not ask him to subscribe after his expression of feeling ; we will endeavour to do without his assistance anyway. That be belongs to that paitieular class of individuals who would take every advantage of the Brigade and give little in return, were it not that he iB caught by the fire rate is evident. t ow with regard to* his generous and kind offer for the Brigade to forego their picnic, has he not sense enough to know that the picnic is not given 10 the Fire Brigade as Buch, but as Borne token of gratitude to the wives of such members who have to suffer the unpleasantness of their husbands (may I call it madness in belonging to such), and aa some recompense for tbe annoyance they receive in consequence ? 1 What kind of honour or principle ' governs our friend " Ratepayer " ? A certain amount is contributed by the insurance companies for a specific purpose, and we have no light to nse such for any other purpose, as he full well knows. ' True, we have on former occasions used it b for o her and, as we thought, higher and j nobler" purposes. • We have with the > greatest pleasure debarred ourselves of ! oar annuaL picnic, and given to such caiu36B as the following the whole of the - picnic money : The Kaitangata explosion, 1 toe Brunner disaster, the Lndian famine, 5 the patriotic fund, besides subscribing to i m«ny other objects, and to one of our oldest and mostjrespeoied com ades..who mat with a most senou9 accident indeed, 3 now nearly twelve months ago. The • Bi igade felt that, in face of such calamities and extraordinary circumstances they could not use the funds for their enjiy--1 ment buch action will, I feel certain, ! meet with the approval of the public at • large, 1 Lastly, as to our sending a team to , Christchurch and what might happen in 1 their absence, all I can tell " Ratepayer" j is this, that the team does not thank him 3 for his compliment. That they are the I six smartest men we coold get who could . possibly sacrifice so much time I freely r admit, but I distinctly deny the stater ment that they are the best in the br^ade, and they themselves know the statement to be false— they never had 3 so much presumption. Anyway, I will 1 inform " Ratepayer " that itis one of our b moat fixed rules that no fireman has a f right to take unto himself individualism - for doing an act that might hare been J done by another. We individualise none, 1 knowing that they are all governed by - that one principle '\Duty." j Now to conclude, I would like to ask - '• Ratepaye " one question : How much is he insured for, and what is the proportion of risk ? Also to s*y this, tbat I 1, answe. no more anonymous letters re „ brigade business. If Le wishes to answer t this append his name and let us knov by whom we are attacked, — I am, &c., VV. Cook set, Secretary Nelson Fire Brigade. Nelson, 7/2/01.