THE FIRE BELL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2592, 12 June 1923, Page 3

THE FIRE BELL.

COUNCIL WILLING TO SELL TO FIRE BOARD.

Many years ago the late Mr Liddell presented to the town a Are bell which was erected and still remains on portion of the police station, adjoining the Town Hall. Inspector Hugo recently suggested that the bell should be removed to the fire station. At a meeting of the local committee of the Fire Board it was resolved to ask the Borough Council what price they put on the bell and structure. .At. last night’s Council meeting a letter was received from the Fire Board to this effect. Cr. Coley said the Council should give the Fire Board the structure free of charge. The Mayor: Not a bit of it.. The timber is in splendid condition and worth anything from £ls to £2O. He said that it wouldn’t be business to give the structure away. He referred to the profits made by the insurance companies and said he didn’t believe in greasing the fat pig. He moved that the structure lie offered to the Fire Board for i the sum of £B. . Cr. Thorpe: It’s a gift at that. Cr. Smith said that the Mayor’s action was very petty. He said if the Fire Board wished they could refuse to buy the structure and erect a new one, 45 per cent, of the cost of which the Council would have to bear. The Council would then be out of pocket. He considered the Mayor’s action, as chairman of the Fire Board, very petty indeed. ' The motion was then put and carried. *