FIRE BRIGADE RESIGNS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17190, 6 November 1923, Page 8 (Supplement)

FIRE BRIGADE RESIGNS.

TROUBLE AT NEW BRIGHTON. The trouble between the New Brighton Borough Council and the New -Brighton Fire Brigade resulted in a special meeting of the council being hold last night. As the result of some friction between the bodies the Fire Brigade, with the exception of seven members, handed their resignations to the Mayor (Mr J. Gamble). The following were present at last night’s meeting:-The Mayor. Councillors K. A- M. Leaver, A. M. C Livers, J. Buxton, .!. H. Shaw. SV. R. Galiagan. K. W;u'd. J. C. Scott-and F. D. Muirson. In detailing the circumstances ot the resignations the Mayor said that on the night of November 1 he was requested to go to the Fire Brigade Station to receive the resignations of the brigade. He protested when the message came to him, and suggested that the matter might he left over till morning, when the resignations could be handed in through the Town Clerk. At the station door he was met by the deputy-mayor (Councillor Muirson) and the chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee (Councillor Ward) and they then interviewed the brigade. He invited the brigade to explain the reason ot their action. Superintendent Nuttall referred to things that had happened at recent fires, but the speaker replied that that had nothing to do with the resignations. He saw that the brigade was almost unanimous in its determination to resign, and he then expressed his personal regret at their action, and he requested the resigning men to leave the room. A curious position arose, however, over the action of the caretaker, who wished to resign as a fireman but to retain his position as caretaker, but that was a matter which would have to he considered. The matter that Jed up to the action of the brigade seemed to be the question of control. Arrangements had been made concerning engineering matters and arrangements which were made as the result of decisions of the council after meeting with the brigade representatives, and for the most part these were approved by members of tho brigade. In order to open the discussion a motion was submitted “ That the council approve of the action of the Mayor, Deputy-Mayor and chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee in accepting the resignations be accepted.” Councillor Gabagen said that it was a terrible thing for a body of men to take such drastic action as the brigade took. It was drastic action on their part to leave the wofneu and children of tho borough to the mercy of the flames. When such action was taken it was, obvious that someone better should he in control. The whole borough was placed in danger, when, after all. the council was the responsible body. The men who stayed on in the station deserved the highest commendation . Councillor Shaw said that when the meeting between the council and the brigade representatives was held to dis cuss affairs some time ago, the superintendent and deputy superintendent went away perfectly satisfied after an amicable settlement had been reached. He would like to know why the matter took six months to develop. There was nothing in the conditions agreed upon which could cause trouble, because the only stipulation was that the superintendent should have control of the engine at fires and demonstrations ; but if it was desired to take the engine out at, other times, the. permission of the chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee would have to he obtained. Councillor Ward said that the brigade- was working under the rules of the United Fire Brigades’ Association, and in them the superintendent was ; given complete control. The Mayor: There is really nothing, in the new conditions that conflicts materially with the old conditions, and J hardly think it is worth while to go hack on to those matters in discussing the motion. Tl<e brigade, he said, had taken up a definite stand, and all that remained was for the members of the council present to accept the resignations, and their action required confirmation. Councillor Scott protested that the matters that led up to the affair concerned both the council and the rate payers. The members of the council Knew quite well what- the trouble was about, and thjey knew how it started. When Superintendent Nut-tall was before the council, he said that the special conditions asked by the council conflicted with those in the Brigades’ Association rule book. The councillors "new quite well that the men’s grievance was that they had been accused ot joy-riding round the borough on the fire-engine. A councillor saw the driver and complained to the tengineer-in-chief instead of going to the superintendent. Tho men resigned, but the council lorced them to resign. Tho Fire Brigade had been badly treated all through, and had not received a square When put to the meeting, the motion was carried, all councillors being in favour with the exception of Councillor ftcott. The question of the caretaker was then discussed, and it was eventually decided that his resignation from the nrigadc meant his resignation from the position of caretaker. It was decided to ask the remnant of the brigade to build up im strength to twenty members, to recommend a man 10 the council for.appointment as superintendent and to -elect their own offi Alter discussion, it was decided that the engineer-in-chief should be .asked to furnish a report on the causes of the delay at a recent fire in South Brighton. A committee, consisting of Councillors Ward. Leaver. Olivers and Gaha gan. was set up for the .purpose of making inquiries into all Fire Brigade At the end of the meeting, the Mayor said that it- was his duty to thank the eTd brigade for the work it had done in file. past. He was exceedingly sorry to see the members go out in the sudden way they did, for tho borough had often been under an obligation to them. On the motion of Councillor Gahagan it- was decided to thank the old brigade, and also to send a letter of rnanks to the members who stood by