SHARPLY DIVIDED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17572, 24 June 1925, Page 7

SHARPLY DIVIDED.

FIRE BOARD DISPUTE. NEW STATION FOR SYDENHAM. Holding that the time had arrived for the election of a new fire station at Sydenham, the Christchurch Firo Board by four votes, to three, decided last, nigiit to call for tenders for ihfc construction of a new building, at n.-i estimated cost of £6OOO, on the site adjoining the present station. The matter was discussed at length in committee, and on resuming toe chairman, Mr A. Williams, said that the hoard in committee had decided that it was necessary to proceed with the erection of a new sub-station at denh.un. He moved that the action of the committee ho adopted by tho ben rd. The motion was seconded by Councillor E. 11. Andrews. Mr K. Robinson said he wanted to place on record his protest against th« proposal, mor : *. particularly m view of the fact that the board was far from unanimous on the subject, four members favouring the proposal and three opposing it. The board should reconsider the matter. Air G. T). MHlwraith asked to have his protest recorded also. Councillor E. H. Andrews: What would have happened had tho voting been the other way about and wc had protested. Nothing would be done a*« all. Mr Robinson said flint the action taken Ihat night brought in issue the constitution of fire boards. The board hail just voted estimates totalling £13,000, and of that, amount the City Council paid £6400, the insurance companies £6IOO, ami the Government £2OO. Regarding the new Sydenham fire station, the votes of the throe City Council representatives went of the proposal, and tho votes of tho three representatives of the insurance companies went against it. The pro pos'd was carried by the fourth which represented a contribution of £2OO out of £13.000. The chairman (Mr A. Williams) saicl that. some question was raised as to whether he as chairman should allow the matter to be decided by four votes to three. He said, yes, most certainly. All local bodies that he knew of came to a decision by a majority vote. That was quite right., otherwise what would he the uso of the board meeting- at- all i 1: the members wore not prepared to bow to majority rule. lie considered the board hod done the right thing regarding the Sydenham station. H-i. could not possibly’ associate himself with any movement which did not. provide for progress in the matter of fire protection, and for safeguarding the interests of tho citizens. The board also owed a duty to the firemen and should not expect the men Jo occupy quarters that tho members would not occupy. Tho quarters at the presentSydenham station were disgusting in the extreme. Tlic cottage where the married man lived should have been condemned long ago, and no married man and family should hare been allowed to occupy it. Now that the board was in a position to provide better quarters for the married and better accommodation for the single men of the Sydenham brigade lie considered it was tbeir duty to cjo so. In tiie interests of tlie public and also of the brigade the new station at Sydenham wns required and those were his reasons for fighting for the new station. The city’ should be congratulated in having; a majority of members on the board who realised their responsibility to tbo public and to the men. Councillor A. D. Ford : Personally, I would not live in the quarters provided at the Sydenham station, and therefore would not ask the firemen to live there. In any event, we have to look to the future. In fifteen or twenty years' time Sydenham will be a big industrial district, and we liovo the opportunity now to provide ii' station that will meet the requirements of tbo district for the next twenty-five years. Mr ltobinson proposed *an amendment to tbo chairman’s motion; “That the question of the alterations to the present Sydenham station and the erection of suitable residential quarters on the 'adjoining section be considered by the board after securing further expert advice.” Mr Robinson's amendment was put and lost by jour votes to three, the voting being: Ayes (3): Messrs R. Robinson, G. D. M’llwraith and J. R. Cameron (insurance representatives). Noes (l): Mr A. Williams. Councillors A. D. Ford and E. 11. Andrews (City Council representatives) and Mr If. It. Rusbridgo (Government, nominee). The motion to adopt the decision of the board in committee was thereupon 03 rried. The board also decided to call for tenders for the erection of tho new building, an amendment proposed by Mr Robinson that tbo calling of ton (levs be postponed until the present station was sold being defeated.