THE FIRE FLOAT QUESTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12696, 26 October 1904, Page 6

THE FIRE FLOAT QUESTION

* ; UNPLEASANT INCIDENT -AT \: J THE HARBOUR BOARD. . I At the meeting of the Harbour Boar;! ye& ■ ■.' 1 terday Mr. W. J. Parker moved, "That '■ j owing to the obsoleteness of the stealer 1 Fire Float, the Board's engineer be instruotj - ■ ed to prepare plans and specifications .-'or tN •''.'■:' construction of a steamer 'Tiit:-,b!e for h&S .-, ' hour work." Mr. Parker went on to <&* ' scribe what he considered' to bo a most painful spectacle, witnessing. the float trying to bring a few empty punts across the harbour. ; '; The Board was wasting its money in- tlJ* ' . ; : way.'-' Mr. A. Alison «>c&nded Mr. Parker* too* . 8 fc ' oH " .-.■..■ ■ I The Chairman asked) if the motion were .-,: I necessary at that juncture, as the engines: .'» had.provided; for a tug ii* his harbour scheme. Mr. Napier opposed the motion, on tin.-.; , ground that it was based upon aisuniptiscs, ; ; that were inaccurate in fact. The pi op?* person to report was thy engineer, flft j suggested that the question be referredto j the engineer. > Mr. . Parker's motion war quite inconsistent with the engineer's ; re*. . ! port. . , ,> Mr. Waller moved as an- amemhaenfcjj "That the mattei be referred to the Work* and Tariff Committee." A steamer could be hired cheapest than the fire float could be L ■■■■■>■; ■ *■ ■■ ............ -.■■.■ if. ■.--.--■ i-v>-j-s--*■■ .-.J-.Vi-:r-"-." J! ■"'.■sj.iih! run. Mr. Philson, speaking with some hear, ■ j said: "I daresay Mr. Parker knows a great ' : deal about his own business, but 1 don't' know that that should qualify him fa, judge of the Harbour Board business." Mr; Philson said he understood the fit* float was ft ' very suitable vessel for the work. Mr. Parker: J. WO al J hot have hen at » - gift. -Mi. Philson : She is taken 'nto the ««c&. as costing £4500. I- place a Ait.deal- ..a more faith if tin statement we shall has* '-K fron- Mr.:Hameithan ; anything I nay beds' , 1 about the vessel from Mi. Parker, ' i Mr. Basiey seconded Sir. Walker'? pro- | posal. ' , ' ' |l Mr. Glovei supported Mr. Walkei -io, J and strongly condemned Mr. Philson's ' 're- '.■■■: 1 marks about Mr. Parkex. -The float bad J had one golden! opportunity, which »he I -missed. There was a fire in the city,' where ' I she could have been -f service, but she was ■ • ! not ready with steam ap until an hour and S a-half afte* the fire was put out. ' ' fi Mr. Napier said Ibis wasunfaii to say I that as the vessel was in dock at the time, ■.'.'■'.{ The Chairman - said ■ the ■ fire float was Lid _ j up at the time «f the fire rofrrred te by , « Mr. Glovei. " * Mr. Waiker pressed foi facts and figures,.; \ and wonted to know what the vesse' ha*' \ cost for six months. For the engineer to say whether she was suitable or not formed : no part of the matt*. Mr. Bailey held that Mr. Parker was as ■ i well able to speak" on the'subject as Mr. - Philson. ' . > _' The Hon. E. Mitchelson : _ It's time this , \ farce was stopped. We are not in com- ■' mittee, and members cannot spea!' twice «*,.-, f the one subject. " " ]: Mr. Mitchelson- then put on his hat sua, ',5 left the room. ' I Mr. Napier contended that the engines y should not b placed in a- falsi. position. ! What he wanted was for th« engineer _« , ,| give his opinion orally. - - 1 Mr. Walker maintained that it would M 1 unfair to there and then ask the engineer to I express his opinion on the fire float. The , 1 engineer had quite enough on hand at ]"■>'" I sent, .-'-.f Mr. Parker: If the; engineer had to work - ' | at such a pitch, then the Board waS . t ofelß ing him unfairly ; but if he caid the fin? t!"-t , \ was up to date, then I say its a He! i Mr. Napier : I rise to a point of or,dfr • "*- 4 i Mr. Parker : I withdraw that expression , but I stand by it that the boat is not up . to date. * '. '.''■' ' The Chairman: The engineer La' s-.«r 1 said the boat was up to date. He eai'i '- I '- ; pump was up to date. , I Mr. Napier reminded the Bert that the I engineer said the boat was satisfactory. I Mr. Walker's amendment, " That the & at- " ter be referred to the Works and Tariff *!' mittee," wis carried, and the incident closed-,