MEETING OF FIRE BRIGADES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 426, 10 April 1880, Page 21

MEETING OF FIRE BRIGADES.

A meeting of members of the two Volunteer Fire Brigades was held at 7 o'clock on April 5, in the up-stairs room of the Wellington Brigade's station in Manners-street. There was a very large attendance, the following officers being present :—Wellington Brigade— Superintendent Whiteford, Captain Wilson, Lieutenants Tolley and Hanson, Treasurer Darroch, and Secretary Swan. Central Brigade—Captain Lieutenant Crawford, Treasurer Austin, and Secretary Adams. Superintendent Whiteford occupied the chair. After some preliminary discussion the chairman briefly explained the result of the deputation to his Worship the Mayor, and said it was now their place to consider what was best to be done.

It was agreed that members should not be limited to speaking only once upon any one subject or motion. Branchman Darkoch moved and Captain Wilson seconded, —That we give the Corporation notice that unless some satisfactory arrangement be come to with the two brigades, the engine stations be locked from and after 12 o'clock noon of the 13th instant, and none of the members will turn out.

Mr. Adams thought if any dust was thrown it should be thrown at the agents, and not on the Corporation, who had acted fair enough until the insurance companies interfered.

Captain Moss said they had nothing whatever to do with the insurance companies. It was through the Mayor that they had received their information, and it was their place to deal with him.

Captain Wilson said the Mayor had distinctly told them that they should come to a stand and let them know what they intended to do. He did not see that they could do anything better than follow that advice. Several members expressed their opinion that they should come to stand without making any proposal, leaving the Corporation to make them an offer. They should have received a proposal before this, but in place of that the allowances of both companies had been stopped, after which they were asked to say what they wanted. A member inquired whether a decision come to at that meeting would be binding to both companies. He asked the question because it was just possible that the insurance companies would go to one or other and make them an offer of reasonable terms. He wanted to know whether they would be justified in accepting the offer. (A number of voices : Certainly not.) The Chairman said they should stick to the resolution come to that evening, come what might. (Hear, hear, and tremendous applause.) They should act together as if they were only one body while they had their joint committee. Branchman Jenkins suggested that three days' notice from that evening would be sufficient. At that time on Thursday all the places held by the two brigades should be fastened up unless the Council had come to terms.

Captain Moss explained that it would be impossible for the City Council to meet without first giving three clear days' notice. It would therefore be unfair to make the notice shorter than proposed in the resolution before the meeting. They should do nothing that could be deemed unreasonable by anyone. They should assist the Council as much as possible. In reply to a question the Chairman stated that they had only received six days' notice. Branchman Darroch thought that the Corporation could not complain of unfair treatment if they gave them a day more than they had received.

Captain Moss warned the meeting not to go

too far. He did not think it would be advisable to lock up the stations altogether, as only the public would be the sufferers in case of fire. He believed that the insurance agents would soon come back to the volunteer system, for they could not maintain a brigade for less than £I6OO a-year, and that was a very considerable sum compared with what the two brigades now in existence cost. They should allow the use of the plant on receipt of a special order from the Mayor or Corporation. They should not injure the city, but obstruct the insurance agents as much as possible.

Branchman Jenkins stated that the insurance companies received about £20,000 in premiums from the city, and paid £SOO to each of the brigades. He did not think that the amount was too much.

The resolution was then put and carried unanimously amidst loud applause. On the motion of Branchman DARROCH it was agreed that all communications received from the Corporation pass through the hands of the joint committee. Some details regarding their action in case of • their services being required were then settled, the main points being that they should only endeavor to save uninsured property ; to take no notice whatever of the insurance companies until matters had been arranged with the Corporation; and to allow the latter the use of the engines, provided an order signed by the Mayor is presented. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close. The members of the Central Brigade then fell in and marched to their station, where they were dismissed.