COUNCIL AND FIRE BRIGADE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 492, 27 April 1909, Page 4

COUNCIL AND FIRE BRIGADE.

•Sir,—ln reply to "Ex-Squirter," whose;)etter appeared- in Monday's Dominion, I have always objected to replying to correspondents who are not' manly, enough to ,sign their names. \ This. i 3 , evidently , tho .samo-in-dividual who gave .false information to Mr. Bolton a few weeks ago,-which was answered by Superintendent O'Brien at the time. 1 have not claimed that it is good ; policy ,to reduce pay, for I am a great believcr'iri paying good wages for good work. ' The new scheme was proposed by tho superintendent; and' was "discussed first by the committee (of which I sia chairman) and afterwards by the .full council,; who approved of it. This statement proves that . "Kx-Squirter" is making .a false statement .when he says , that "X'hope'that whatever, council gets in, the men's grievances will not go before two; or three ..of these to deal with, hut before the whole council, and also'hope their pay will never be reduced." Tho old'system was to pay a retaining fee of £5 for,,the'first twelve months, and £15 thereafter.' The £5 or £15 included payment, for the first hour's' work at a lire. The'new scheme is £7 10s.'as'a retaining fee, and 3s. for the. first hour at a fire. . The statement submitted', to. the council by :the superintendent, showed', that 107 calls had . been given,, and out' of these ono'mari had attended 62 calls,' one ,58, one 57, and duother 25, for. which each malvwas' paid £15.; Was it; a fair, system that tho man who attended' 62; calls should;orijy receivel tho same amount as the onowho only attended 25 calls'!'' j Under the new and fair system, the .one .with .62..ca11s receives £7 Ids. retaining'fee;, and £9 6s. for his 6:2 ' calls} at .3s! per call,''making' a total.'of'£l6' 1169., or£l 165.. better. . The, man with 25 'calls, would : only receive' £11 as.,'/'which ' 1 claim is miito enough for. a mail who only., ! attended 25 calls out of 107. I ■therefore claim that the. new system, is better, as the men. aro now paid for . tho: work they do;. Trusting the ratepayers will s.ee the. justice of'my claim' that' I. have been; looking after tlifeir interests while 4 a/,member of the council,—! am, etc., . ' . .' . THOMAS BALLINGER, ; ; • ; Chainfian of tho Fire Brigade :Committee;. April 26. ' : '