FIRE BRIGADE'S POSITION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2234, 21 August 1914, Page 6

FIRE BRIGADE'S POSITION

NO LEAVE FOR MEMBERS. ' The Wellington City Council last evening resolved: "That the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade should be instructed to inform the members of the Fire Brigade that leave cannot, be granted them to join the Expeditionary Force, as tho efficiency of the brigade must, be maintained at its present standard." The only opposition to-the motion was raised by Councillor J. E. Fitzgerald, who said that numerous business firms had had to make sacrifices by allowing their men to go tc the front, and that he did not see why the City Corporation should adopt the attitude proposed Tho Mayor (Mr. J! P. Luke) snid that twenty-five men had been granted leave from the tramway service and several others from the corporation's employ. Tlie Fire Brigade was weak (numerically) now, and to grant leave to members of that branch of the service would be allowing away "our. soldiers whom we need ourselves." Councillor Fitzgerald: Tho same applies everyn'hero else. Tlie Mayor: You cannot compare this position with anything else. Councillor Fitzgerald: Of course you can. Why, we have sent away the finest battery we had when it may be needed here for ourselves 1 There was'no further discussion on the subject. .