WATCHERS BY DAY AND NIGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17567, 18 June 1925, Page 13

WATCHERS BY DAY AND NIGHT.

MAYOR’S TRIBUTE TO FIREMEN. Faying tribute to the sclf-sacriflcing spirit with which firemen arc imbued, the Mayor, >lr J. K. Archer, stressed the need for the public’s fuller appreciation of their services, when speaking at the funeral yesterday of the victim of Monday night's fatal smash. “I am sure we must all be very deeply impressed this afternoon by the circumstances that have brought us together,” said Mr Archer. “A few weeks 2go I together with some of those present at this little gathering was at Wellington "to attend the funeral of the late Right Hon W. F. Massey, Prime Minister of New Zealand. We saw there the huge crowds that lined the streets, but speaking from my own personal knowledge—and others who were there on that occasion will bear me out—l am sure that although the crowds were larger, they were not more silent or sympathetic than the people who lined the route on the way to the cemetery this afternoon. “As wc were coming down from the Fire Station,” the Mayor continued, “we could not fail to be impressed by the demeanour of those people. I would like as Mayor of Christchurch to express sympathy on behalf of the citizens with the relatives of the dead officer, although I understand they arc not with us to-day.” “An occasion of this kind reminds us of something of which we are all aware, but that we are inclined to overlook, that the fireman is like the soldier who goes to the war, in that ho risks his life for the public good. Of course the circumstances attending Monday night’s tragedy were unusual and surprising. For a fireman to lose his life while fighting a fire is not altogether a remarkable thing, for the risk is always there, but Monday night’s tragedy was .different. “I would like to take the opportunity of reminding you people of the immense debt, wc owe these men who .serve us in this manner: they watch over us bv night and dav, through all seasons and under all conditions. In the future I hope wo will do everything that is possible to express our appreciation of their service, and make their work a much easier one. I would like to express a word of sympathy for the driver of the car that collided with the fire-engine. I am sure that on his heart and mind there is a great burden of deep sorrow.”