MOUNT EDEN FIRE BRIGADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20479, 3 February 1930, Page 12

MOUNT EDEN FIRE BRIGADE.

Sir,—ln the Herald of January ol appeared a remarkable letter by signing himself " Fireman for 22 \ ears. Some of his statements are absurdly, childish (in spite of his professed long service), and to anyone acquainted the fire service of the Dominion, are "both erroneous and ridiculous. Certainly, as this fireman states, the Mount Eden Borough Council bids fair to become a laughing stock of all brigades, fire boards and councils throughout the Dominion. 'Not, however, as your correspondent infers. because it has decided to restrict billiard playing on Sundays, and prohibit the consumption of liquor on the station premises, but because it permits the brigade to offer criticism of the actions of the controlling body. May I suggest that, the administration of the brigade should rest entirely with the Mount Eden Council, and riot come within the province of the members of the brigade at all. " i ireman " niakes the statement that the brigade is purely a voluntary body. This statement is quite wrong, as the firemen are paid for each call which they attend. No reasonable person lirs the slightest objection to billiards (even a. game on Sunday may be enjoyable), but it seems reasonable that as the men have six days (and nights) on which to enjoy a game, they could at least from their sport on tire seventh, if only in deference to the wishes of the residents. The pros and cons of the propriety of billiard playing, however, do not constitute the point at issue. Tho outstanding fact remains that tho council, as the controlling authority, should retain tie right to sole control of tho brigade, as would 1)0 the case if it were administered by a fire board. " Fireman " makes ai further incorrect statement by inferring* inter alia, that " all other brigades ii? Now Zealand " are permitted to entei* tain their fellow brigade members petf medium of " a glass of nut brown ale.'*For a fireman of 22 years' standing, this is a truly remarkable assertion. Allow, me to state ttiat the vast majority of fire brigades in tho Dominion do not' permit the consumption of liquor on their' premises. If the younger, generation ar<j not taking the samo interest in fire, brigade matters as formerly, it is because many men of long service retain antiquated ideas as to the operation of fire brigades. Tho younger generation demand reforms, in this as in other matters. Nowadays tho business of fire-fight-ing is ati art and a science, but no matter how up-to-date a. brigade's ■ equipment may be, it is valueless when in incompetent-' hands, which do not trouble to learn the advantages of modern equipment. The value of our volunteer firemen is inestimable, but efficient control is always necessary. EmciExcv.