THE FIRE BRIGADE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 128, 22 July 1911, Page 5

THE FIRE BRIGADE.

CONFERENCE WITH THE BOitOl'GH COUNCIL. ALLEG Kl) FHIGTIOX. By invitation of the Firo Brigade, .members of die Borough Council wove present at the meeting of die brigade last night. M lie membens of the Council present were:—The Mayor and Crs. Morison, Healy and Lawson. in welcoming members of tiie Council, the Captain of the brigade (Mr T. 0. Grubb) said the brigade desired to meet the Council with a view to the Council seeing the circumstances of the brigade’s work. A reel, which was kept at the south station, had been in use for fourteen years, and was worn out lief ore it was procured from Wanganui. Another point was the hand cart, which was found to be too heavy in view of the long distances which had to be covered. It was very well while the water service was conlinad to a small space, lut now when die service had been extended it was hard on members. Five men took down the cart to the daily factory firo and when they arrived they wore nearly done up. It was lucky other members wore on the spot, as otherwise the men who had taken the cart down could have done very little. Ho recognised that the Council had not too much money, and he did.not suggest that any improvements he might mention should b:; carried out at once. He had intended to speak about fire-plugs, but the ] Council had already taken action in the matter.

The Mayor, at this point, said bethought the brigade were putting tha cart before the horse as the Council had a committee to look after the brigade, and the whole Council would never consent to override that committee. All the brigade’s affairs should bo seen to by the committee. When ho came to the meeting, he did not know what lie had been asked to it for. It would lie an insult to the whole Council if he took up the duties of the Fire Brigade Committee. The correct procedure was for tlie fire brigade to meet the Committee and discuss their affairs. Personally, he was chairman of the FireBrigade Committee and he had net been summoned to a meeting for some time—he was sure there had been no meeting of the Committee for the past fifteen months. In the past, the habit appeared to have been for one or two individual members of the Committee to bo approached on different matters.

Gr. Healy said he was surprised that no members of the Committee were present, as he thought the invitation had come through the Committee. He would like to know if there was any friction between the brigade and the Committee. Captain Grubb said there was no friction. Ho said the idea of the brigade was to invite the Council to moot members of the brigado and to inspect the plant. Secretary Burgess said, while he had been secretary lie had notified the members of the Committee annul mootings. Ho had never notified the Mayor, not knowing ho had a '-eat on the Committee. Cr. Morison said he regret tel to see that there was friction. Ho advised calling a halt. Then the brigade could put their grievances before the Committee and an amicable agreement could probably lie come to. Branch man Evans said the brigade had failed to get satisfaction from the Committee. The Mayor said that ail ihe plant asked for last year had been supplied or was on the way. Ho dm not know until that evening that there was any friction bet worn the Lmgadc and the Committee. Cr. Lawson, as a nicmWr < f the Committee, said ho did not know of anything the committee had tailed to do. It was then decided that the set re tary write ti Ihe town Clerk inqr-i:-ing when It add Ic ccnvcnnr.t nor the Committee to meet the brigade’s committee. Proceedings closed with a von oi thanks to the Mayor and the Councillors who had attended