FIRE BRIGADE DONATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 3921, 17 September 1875, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADE DONATIONS.

To the Editor.

Sir, — Do people who have the misfortune of being burnt out make money out of their losses ? 1 am led to make this inquiry from observing, from time to time, the liberal donations these poor burnt-oixt creatures make after a hre to the Volunteer Fire Brigade. I observe by your issue of to-day that Messrs Henderson, Law, and Co. are the latest contributors in this respect, having presented the Brigade with a cheque for twenty guineas in consideration “ of the great services rendered by theßrigade on the occasion of the late fire at their premises.” gentlemen are, I believe, agon's for an Insurance Company, and grudge, amongst others, paying to the Corporation more than a miserable twenty-five pounds a year for the support of the Brigade; yet for one fiic they «re liberal enough to donate to the extent of twenty guineas. This of course shows, I suppose, the liberality of the individual as against the parsimony of a large public company. And yet, why should every person who is burnt out few it incumbent upon him to make a donation upon the occasion of a fire ? What are the gentlemen forming the Brigade banded together for? Is it not for the suppression of fires? and are they not volunteers ? And does it not look something like payment for services rendered, which destroys the volunteer element aifogether-this continual donating the Bri* gade ? Why, sir, I do not hesitate »o say that tlm money given in this manner, added to the amount subscribed by Insurance Offices and the Corporation, would more than suffice to pay the entire cost of a paid Brigade; and in suon a case I presume there would be no necessity for these kind donations. I wonder if it ever struck any of thise liberal donors that the money so given is, in the event of a Brigade disbanding, divided pro rata amongst the members. Were the Brigade incorporated, and the funds scouted to their successors for all time for the purposes of a sick and funeral fund, and perhapi the insurance of members* lives, £ could understand the force of this liberality, but under present circumstances it appears to me to be out of place. This donating practice has assumed such a form non*

that every person who has the misfortune to be burnt out, whether he is well insured or not, is expected to make a present to the brigade, and runs the risk, if he does not do so, of being called a shabby fellow. The only true remedy for all this humbug, in my opinion, is a paid brigade, and the sooner the insurance offices, the Corporation, and the public recognise this the better.—l am, &c,, H. S. Fish, Junr. Dunedin, September 16.