SHOULD THE FIRE BRIGADE BE SHARED WITH EASTBOURNE.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 42, 27 March 1930, Page 7

SHOULD THE FIRE BRIGADE BE SHARED WITH EASTBOURNE.

In deciding the question of whether the-local Vounteer Fire Brigade should be allowed to attend fires at Eastbourne at a charge of £5 per call, 1/he members of the Borough Council had to mate a most difficult decision. The point afc issue was one of such vital importance that councillors might, almost have been excused if they had allowed sentiment to control tiieir feelings. Each* speaker expressed entire sympathy witli the difficult position in which Eastbourne is placed, but did not fail to realise t-hat their first " duty was :to their' own " ratepayers; Probably the recollections of the disastrous' firse last Friday evening did much, to impress councillors with the serious eonsecpienees to the ratepayers of^ifliifl borough had the brigade been absent on. that occasion. It was pointed out during the discussion t»hat this borough enjoys more favourable £re insuTance Tates than other districts possessing les» efficient fire-fighting plant and there was a danger of the Underwriters' Association withdrawing 5n some measure those privileges if the borough fire bra* gade was liable to serve outside its own district. Another danger that was not mentioned at the eonincil meeting, but which nevertheless would be a very real one, is the danger of accidents whilst travelling to or fTom a fire at Eastbourne. The road round the bays is not an ideal racing txaei, with ita many sharp turns, and although tlto driver of the engine is recognised as being particulaTly expert, tliis is not sufficient guarantee against accident, nor does it justify the brigade taking risks which it should not be called upon to face. -

The Mayor, of Eastbourne has express ed "his gratitude for tie splendid work carried out by thgfcHutt brigade on the occasion of the recent fire in his town when £20,000 worth ox further damage was averted. We have every reason to be ''•proud that our local brigade haa always been willing to help others wkeni in distress, but we have no hesitation; in commending our councillors for the action they 'took in this matter and feel sure that the people of Eastbourne, will realise that with the rapid growjßn of this borough the calls upon the services of the fire brigade must increase proportionately.