THE NELSON VOLUNTER FIRE BRIGADE.

Colonist, Volume L, Issue 12185, 7 March 1908, Page 2

THE NELSON VOLUNTER FIRE BRIGADE.

To the Editor,

Sir, — la your leader in yesterday morning's "Coloni3t" you state that the Council pays an nnirual subsidy of £225 to the Brigade, upon the expenditure of which it exercises no check. 1 wish to state that at the end of onch year a proper balancesheet is made out, and that the Town Clerk (Mr 11. -V. Gully) audits same and checks every item with the receipted invoices and accounta presented. I am, etc., J. E. 11OUNSELL, Treasurer. [We would like to point out to Mr Hounsell that the mere submission to the City Council annually of a statement of receipts and expenditure does not constitute any check upon such expenditure. The Council is not kept informed of the Brigade's requirements, or of the additions it makes to its plant. The position really amounts to this: The City Council, realising 1 that some measures are necessary t) guard against tire, pays an annual subsidy of £225 to an irresponsible body for the purpose, and washes its hands of the matter. This, we contend, is not as it should be, and in no other town in the Dominion, m far as we have been able to ascertain, I does the loc-bI authority so delegate its responsibility. Our quari'9l is not so much with tho I Fire Brigade as with the system. The Brigade certainly is ineflicient, .. but under such a system it could

not well be otherwise. The tiremen, we Know, do their best under

the circumstances, but that best falls -very" far short of what it should be under proper organisation and discipline.— Ed. "Colonist."]