WELLINGTON FIRE BRIGADE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1775, 14 March 1906, Page 59

WELLINGTON FIRE BRIGADE.

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. The Wellington Fire Brigade held its seventh annual dinner in the Central Fire Station last Wednesday evening, ihe Mayor presided, and among those present Avas the Minister for Native Affairs, the Hon. Jas. Carroll. Apologies Avere received for the absence of the Premier and the Minister for Public Works, the hon. Wm Hall-Jones. Members of Parliament present included the Hon. T. KMacdonald, M.L.C., and Messrs V. 41. P. Barber and C. H. Izard, M. sH.R. Members of the City Council also attended. The toast of "His Excellency the Govenor” liaviug been honoured, Mr J. P. Luke, member of the 'Wellington City Council, proposed The Ministry and Parliament.” _ The proposer paid a tribute to the A\ r eiglit of the Hon. Jas. CarroVl in tho Cabinet, and tho importance to the colony of his portfolio of Native Affairs. The time had arrived for the leasing of native lands. Tho obligations of the Treaty of Waitangi should be re-spected, but these tracts of land should not be alloAved to remain idle. Non-cultivation made these lands the home of noxious Aveeds, and this should be put a stop to. As to the Upper House, people talked about abolishing it, but it Avould be a hard job, lie was sure, to abolish the Hon. T. K. Macdonald. The Hon. Mr Carroll: Particularly Avhen ho has a say in it himself. Mr Luke emphasised the A'alue of the revising work of the Upper House. There had been a lot of legislation improving tho conditions of workers; but shorter hours and more pay meant that some step must be taken to keep those Avho benefited by them in constant employment. He Avas never a strong protectionist—he Avas only being converted to it—but it waa necessary for the Government to deal with the question of tariff reform, and the GoA'ernment should provide honest and congenial employment for the people of the colony. It Avas all very Avell to say "go on the land,” but they could not all go on the land, and industries must be looked after. Responding, the Minister for Native Affairs said Parliament and the Ministry Avere the result of the expression of public opinion as expressed at the polls. No Minister and no public man placed in stewardship by the public could last if he neglected the public interests. Labour organisations, once looked on as unsettling factors, were everywhere uoav exercising a powerful influence in human affairs. The great guarantee of stability was the quickness with Avhicli Ave, noivadays, recognised influences and their causes, and went to the seat of the trouble. It was true that New Zealand had been the laboratory of experimental legislation. Certainly Ave Avere a young country in a pliable state, ana changes and experiments Avere much easier here than in older and more cast-iron countries. But alloAving for this, it must be admitted that we went to the root of grave questions—the occupancy of the land, and a number of lathers, including maternity homes, and old age pensions. It Avas the duty of Parliament to place the fire brigade service, if possible, on a better footing than it Avas now. The Minister also spoke on the native land question. Ills remarks are reported elsewhere. The Hon. T. K. Macdonald, M.L.C., referred to the occasional tendency to treat the Legislative Council as an old and effete institution. He did not feel a Aveak vessel, and he Avould say that members of the Council avlio had passed the age of seventy years, the Hon. J. D. Ormond ana the Hon. the Speaker, were as capable and as keen in their work as any mon in the colony. (Applause.; He asked what it would mean Avlien the eight and a half million acres of native lands Avere opened up to settlement? It Avoukt mean chat we Avere only at the beginning of our produce export, and of our prosperity. Mr. W. H. P. Barber, M.H.E., said that industries must be protected from alien labour, and from siveating Avages; also from iho capitalist, tne monopolist, and the trust. The trust should not be alloAved to supply articles m the colony, at a cheaper rate, if the reduction was only a temporary one, and the prices to be raised subsequently. Mr. C. IL. Izard, M.11.R., and City Councillor, also lesponaed to the toast. "The rue miyaue was proposed by the Mayor, wno referred, to the high ideat up to which a hr©man must liveail ideal oi coinage and self-sacrifice. I'oiemun Wooicotc was eulogised by the mayor and s© was Superintendent Hugo, wnose determination and grasp of affairs received a tribute. Superintendent mug©, in reply, made an interesting speecn covering the work of tho year ana a number of recommen.uuti.oms. Tms speech is reported in another column. Mr 'Wm. Hildreth proposed "The Mayor and City Council.” The Mayor and Councillor Winner suitably responded, the latter paying a speo.al tribute to th® Council’s stiff and employees. Councillor Izard had a word of praise for tho Firo Police, whose health he proposed. It avos drunk with enthusiasm, coupled with the name of Captain Wright. Other toasts wero "Insurance Companies,” proposed by City Councillor Ballinger, responded to by Meosrs R. M. Simpson (Tlioenix Co.) and J. W. Brindley (State Fire Insurance Department); "The Visitors,” proposed by City Councillor Cohen, responded to by Captain Hannah and Police Inspector Ellison, avlio testified to the good Avork of the F.re Brigade and the Fire-Police. The proceedings were diversified Avith songs and monologue