THE "MIGHTY MERCHANT' AND THE SECRETARY OF THE FIRE BRIGADE.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1058, 11 July 1883, Page 2

THE "MIGHTY MERCHANT' AND THE SECRETARY OF THE FIRE BRIGADE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Never before have I read in your columns such a vindictive, malicious, and misleading letter as the one written by Mr John Bright, the secretary of the Patea Fire Brigade. He tells the public “ that since the re-formation of the brigade in 1881 not a penny has been received from any public body, company, or even the mighty merchant himself.” Well, all I can say is that the brigade must have had a very unenergetio secretary to have allowed this state of things to exist. Notice the cunningness of the secretary. He will not inform the public what amount of money the brigade had collected previous to his coming on Ahe stage, but only what they had “ not ’’’collected: since he arrived. Now, sir, if you will allow me space I will put the public perfectly clear on the subject of the brigade having been found and maintained “ all” by “ public funds.” - - J When the Brigade first formed, a subscription list was taken -round and I believe nearly every citizen subscribed towards it, “ The Mighty Merchant ” included. The Brigade ultimately disbanded, but a few months before ifdid;. a meeting of insurance agents took place (of which I was chairman) in Mr E. G. Horner’s office. This meeting was. brought about principally by my influence. ' Wo agreed (8 offices in .number) to subscribe £4O, £5 each, and I was under, the . impression that each company had paid their quota. I know of £25 that was paid, but Mr W. Dixon assures me that" he only received about that amount and of course I take his -word for it. At any rate, as I have before stated, the Brigade disbanded a few months afterwards and I never knew/ nor, don’t know yet officially how and where the money was expended. I will leave it to you, sir, whether before taking such a step, .ought not a balance sheet duly audited have been presented to the public and the , insurance companies. This is done in every other place, and whether Mr Bright likes it or not,, he must submit his accounts to be audited annually, (yes, and by representatives of the very bodies which I suggested at the last meeting of the Borough Council) otherwise the Brigade need not attempt to solicit aid from public local bodies or Insurance companies.

Mr Bright, the Secretary of the Fire Brigade, also states; “ Ye' lovers of red-tape think of it—two auditors at a guinea or two each, to scrutinise the expenditure of less than £SO annually.” Now, Sir, this is purely imaginary on the part of Mr Bright. No such things as paid auditors were ever dreamt of. I have it from one of the fittest agents in town—m., Mr T. Eyton—-that he would not think of charging. I can also answer for myself; and I believe Messrs Gibson, Cowern, and Horner, would with pleasure audit a Volunteer company’s accounts gratuitously. Mr Bright says Mr Horner audited the accounts last year: did he (Mr H.) make a charge for it? In conclusion, I must now ask the Secretary of the Fire Brigade—just to see it ho has gbt any shame in him, seeing that he has stated to the public openly that the Brigade has not received one farthing of public monies since its re-formation, Ist. Did you receive any monies from the proceeds of the entertainment given in aid of the Fire Brigade ? 2nd. Did yon receive any monies from those public institutions called “ Banks” ? • 3rd. Did yon receive any monies from any of the Hotelkeepers ? If the statements made in Mr Bright’s, the Secretary’s letter, were made in an audited balance-sheet, I. could get at him properly; as I have reason to believe that the Brigade did 'receive monies from the above ' mentioned sources since they were reformed.— Yours, &c. ; “ The Mighty Merchant,” or in other words, Samuel Taplin. P.S.—lt has been said' that Iworild not have raised the question of auditor, if Mr John Bright had not been Secretary. I can assure you, Sir, that if my dearest friend was Secretary I should have been .prompted to do exactly as I did, as I think it is quite proper, that anybody spending public money should show the public how it was spent.—S.T.