MAYOR AND FIRE BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2599, 28 June 1923, Page 2

MAYOR AND FIRE BOARD.

COUNCIL REFUSES TO ENDORSE MAYOR’S ACTION. At Tuesday night’s special meeting of the Borough Council the Mayor introduced matters in connection with the Foxton Fire Board. At the annual meeting of the Eire Board, the Mayor, who is one of the three Council representatives on the Fire Board, and who was the outgoing chairman, was not again nominated for the position and upon the unanimous election of the new chairman, the Mayor without explanation, hurriedly withdrew from the meeting. Last Saturday evening lie waited upon the' Board secretary and asked for a copy of the Board’s estimates which have not yet been finally approved or submitted to the Minister, as lie said they were required for the Town Clerk. He received a copy and explanation from the Board secretary and on Tuesday night presented them for discussion ■at the Council meeting.

The Mayor said the Town Clerk had received a copy of the estimates and it was only right that the Council should review them. He then read the estimates and pointed out that he could not understand fire Board having a “double sinking fund.” He considered one or two other items considered revision. He then read the following written statement to the Council:— MAYOR’S WRITTEN STATEMENT.

“I wish to draw your attention to the largely increased estimates of proposed expenditure by the Foxton Fire Board for the coming year, viz. £665 as compared with £250 last year. After deleting certain items of capital expenditure represented by a credit balance there remains about £465 to be spent. I understand the amount the Council has to pay is £2lO. Before the Fire Board was formed the ratepayers were led to believe on the authority of Superintendent Hugo, that the maximum contribution by the Council would not exceed £l5O per annum. I wish to state that the members of the Fire Brigade are doing fine work and deserve good equipment, but there are certain items in the estimates wlieli could be reduced or cut out and not affect the efficiency of the Brigade in the least degree. For instance a second sinking fund has been provided to absorb £6B 15s. When the Town Clerk drew up our estimates for the present year he allowed the maximum of £l5O as our contribution to the Fire Board. If the Board’s estimates are approved we simply cannot pay the account in full. In other words oiH the 31st March there will be a debit balance which the Councillors jointly and severally may be called upon to pay. I wish to move that a letter be written to the Minister of Internal Affairs respectfully asking him to reduce the estimates of the Foxton Fii’e Board sent to him for approval, by the sum of £132, in order that the Council may pay its contribution in full out of rates collected for that purpose. I wish to state that I will never be a party to a ‘breach of faith’ with the ratepayers. A definite statement was made before the Board was formed as to expenditure and should be adhered to. The rates at present in many instances are a heavy burden. A good citizen approached me recently asking for some relief. He owns a small area of 44 acres of bare land without a building and the property is valued at £IOB per acre, which at BTcl in the pound, amounts to £3 18s fid per acre in addition to interest on the purchase price of the land. 1 regret that there are some of our public men who are seeking by their actions to lay grievous burdens on the people that they themselves would not touch with one of their fingers. If this policy is not discontinued instead of attracting people to our town we will drive them away by excessive rating.” Continuing, after reading the statement, the Mayor quoted the report of Inspector Hugo’s visit to Foxton when he addressed the Fire Brigade in connection with the formation „f a Fire Board. Inspector Hugo then said the estimated expenditure to the borough would amoiait to about £2OO, whex'eas the estimates this year were greater. He maintained that it was utterly useless to write to the Fire Board in reterence to a reduction in the estimates. The Fire Board had wasted £2OO in the erection of a fire station and had simply ignored his (the Mayor’s) protest as representative of the people. Inspector Hugo’s estimate for the erection of a tire station was £7OO. The committee had met —“all budding architects” — and had decided that the structure be erected at an increased cost. He had asked the Council to protest againsL ibis expenditure and Cr. Smith had stated that neither he nor Mr Hornblow had intended to exceed Inspector Hugo’s estimate hut when the tenders were received they accepted a tender in excess of the estimate by over £2OO. A TIN SHED. Cr. Smith: Quite right too. If you had had vour way we would have had a tin shed! Cr. Smith went on to explain and to justify certain items in tlie estimates. He ridiculed the Mayor’s reference to a “double sinking fund” pointing oulfv that a sinking fund of 1 per cent, was provided on loan and 10 per cent, on plant, £450, whch had to be provided for as the plant was a deminishing asset and had to be replaced. Cr. Walker pointed out that a good deal of the sums on the estimates would not be recurring.

. Cr. McMurray concurred and pointed out details. Cr. Smith said that is quite correct.

The Mayor said they had £212 in hand for that work. Cr. McMurray: Thnt amount is set off against the £6OO. The Mayor said the position was the Council had not got any money to meet the levy. Cr. Bryant said the fire premiums had not been reduced as a result of the Fire Board. Cr. Coley: I don’t know what further reduction you want. Cr. Smith said they all knew that the Mayor did not remain at the Fire Board meeting and yet he had the cheek to convene a special meeting of the Council for the purpose of criticising what had been done at that meeting. He said the Mayor had been appointed as a representative of the Council and was expected to attend the Fire Board meetings. The Mayor: How did you treat me at the Fire Board meeting? You did not treat me with the respect that was due to me. GOT UP AND WALKED OUT. .. Cr. Smith heatedly: You got up and walked out of the meeting. Continuing, Cr. Smith again referred to the estimates and justified the proposed expenditure. The total estimates would be about £4OO odd, of the Council would bear only per cent. The first two years’ expenditure of the Fire Board would necessarily be heavier than in subsequent years. Inspector Hugo’s estimate of expenditure for the borough was about £l5O annually and he did not think this would be exceeded after the initial expenditure. 14 anything could be held over in connection with the estimates which would not be detrimental to the efficiency of the brigade, lie would agree to it. The Mayor had no authority or grounds to speak in the manner in which lie had. “NOT A BED OF BOSES.” (V, Coley: Evidently this Fire Hoard is not a bed of roses! Cr.**MeMurray to the Mayor: Why •lid. you retire from the meeting? Wbvi were appointed as a represenlagpve on the Board to look into these matters and yet von left the

meeting! “ROARED” AT THE ARCHITECT.' The Mayor, who was now greatly agitated, rose and said he would make a statement. He was tendering his resignation as a .representative on the Board. The position was that lie eould not sit under the ruling of a chairman whom lie could not respect. A resolution was passed by the Board accepting a tender for the erection of the fire station, .subject to the finances being arraniged. Debentures were advertised at 51 per cent, and then fi per cent, and there were no applications. The present chairman saw the architect and “roared” at him “why haven’t you started the fire station?” The architect told the chairman that lie eould not do anything until the finances were arranged. The contractor camp down and the present chairman told him to go on with the work and he (the Mayor) said lie knew nothing about it until he was rung up by the present chairman (Mr Hornblow) and accused of working against the Board. He said to me: “You are doing all Von can against it.” He said be then made a personal canvass and raised £BOO to complete the building. The present chairman had acted contrary to the Board’s resolution in this matter. He had asked for , an apology but did not get it. At the next meeting of the Board he had asked for an apology and the present chairman had laughed at him and accused him of being slothful. He would not take that from a man who had not done a bard day’s work in his life. Inspector Hugo said that the Foxton Fire Board bad accomplished more in its first year than any other Board in the Dominion. He had had ten years of public life and this was an unique experience. He bad never had to resign before. At this juncture the Mayor was subjected to a cross \ fire by Crs. Smith and Coley. WRITE TO THE MINISTER. The Mayor then moved the following motion, seconded by Cr. Walker: “That a letter be written to the Minister of Internal Affairs respectfully asking him to reduce the estimates of the Foxton Fire Board sent to him for approval by the sum of £132 in order that the Council may pay its contribution in full out of rates collected for the purpose.” Cr. Smith-again reiterated that the Mayor should have attended the meeting if he wished to criticise the work done at that meeting. The Mayor: Confine yourself to the motion. Cr. Smith: T am strongly against the motion. Cr. McMurray: Does Cr. Brvant think Cr. Smith is in order? CR. BRYANT EXPLAINS. Cr. Bryant said he, with other Board members spent from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. oil this work at the last meetings of the Board. Personally he had investigated every estimate submitted. The experienced members of the Board assured the members thnt the estimates eould not be reduced. In the first year the expenses wei*e naturally heavy. If anything could be done to reduce the estimates at the next meeting he assured the Council that he would give the matter attention. He considered the secretary’s salary at £25 per annum sufficient. Cr Smith said he proposed £39 but no one supported him. Cr. Bryant, continuing, said he did not think all the expenditure would be made as provided for and at the end of the financial year they

would find themselves in the same position as they were this year with a credit. COUNCIL WOULD LOOK RIDICULOUS. Cr. McMurray said he did not think it would he any use writing to the Minister of Internal Affairs as the estimates had been approved by Inspector Hugo. It would be better for the Council to approach the Fire Board and if possible they would reduce the estimates. The Council would only look ridiculous by writing to the Minister of Internal Affairs. LEVY STILL OWING. The Town Clerk explained that f here was still a quarter of the Council’s levy for the past year owing to the Fire Board as the Council’s financial year and the Board’s were not synonymous. Cr. Coley said he could not support the motion as the Minister could not help them. The Mayor: It is the only hope we’ve got. AN AMENDMENT. Cr. McMurray then moved the following amendment, seconded by Cr. Thorpe: “That the Fire Board be requested to endeavour to reduce its estimates to come within the amount raised by way of rates namely £l5O, provided by the Council during the current financial year.” The Mayor, in reply said that from past experience it was not the slightest use to refer the matter to the Board. The Council was but a “voice crying in the wilderness,” The Board bad increased its expenditure. Cr. Smith: They have done quite right. INSURANCE COMPANIES AND BANKRUPTCY.

The Mayor said insurance companies had run Ohnkune bankrupt by a fire board and there would be more too. He would not mind if the insurance companies paid a fair share. The Council bad erected a water tower at a cost of £4,000, provided 110 fire plugs, and gave free water for fire and practices and yet they had to pay £2OO in addition to all this. The true position was that the Council were paying 65 per cent., the insurance companies 30 per cent, and the Government 5 per cent, of expenditure. The Council’s duty was plain. They must not mislead the ratepayers. He would not be a party to deception. He had fold them at a public meeting that they would only have to pay £l5O and after six months they yore being asked to pay £2OO. Cr. Smith: Average it over live years. The brigade must be equipped properly, anyhow.

Cr. Coley: The insurance companies get the advantage, not the Council. CONTRACTOR. AND JOB.

Cr. Smith said lie had acted in conjunction with Mr Hornblow re asking the contractor to -tart the job as the date for starting the work expired on that day and had this happened tile Board would have been put. to the expense of calling fresh tenders. He was not aware whether the other members of the Board were not communicated with but knew that Mr Hornblow tried to get in touch with the Mayor (the chairman) but failed. The best interests of the Board had been acted upon. It was “rot” to say that the insurance companies were the only ones to benefit. Fires were a national loss. The Mayor advocated the Minister settling this matter. AMENDMENT AND MOTION LOST. After further desultory discussion and interjections, the amendment was put and lost, the mover and seconder voting for it. Tlie motion was then put and lost For: The Mayor and Crs, Adams and Walker; against: Crs. Coley, McMurray, Bryant, Thorpe, Parkin, and Smith.

Cr. Smith said the Board had done its best and he could not understand all this bickering. RESIGNATION WITH A TAIL. The Mayor then tendered his resignation as one of the Council’s representatives on the Fire Board. In doing so he hoped they would not think lie was childish but he could not sit under the chairman. The following motion was then moved by Ci\_Walker, seconded hv Cr. Coley, after one or two Councillors had refused to sign it: the latter portion being dictated by the Mayor: “That the Mayor's resignation as the Council’s representative on the Fire Board be accepted with regret and endorses bis action.” The Mayor said if they had confidence in him lie hoped they would carry the motion and accept bis resignation. Cr. Coley: Withdraw it and reconsider the whole matter at the next Council meeting. This is done at the heat of the moment. Cr. Bryant said that at the annual meeting of the Fire Board he thought that as the first year had not been a bed of roses for the Mayor, he seconded Mr Cray’s proposal for the election of the present chairman. He thought the Mayor would like to be out of it and was surprised at bis disappointment. He thought the chairmanship had to be rotary. The Mayor: I won’t reconsider it.

Cr. Walker said the Mayor bad been a little too hasty at the Fire Board meeting but probably an injustice had been done the Mayor iu not re-electing him chairman. His rejection had been sprung upon him after uphill work. The Mayor: “Base ingratitude.”

Cr. Smith said he was sorry for the present affair, but it was every one to their own opinion. The Mayor had made a charge against the

present chairman and lie was not going to be a party to it. Mr Hornblow bad acted in the best interests of the Board, and ten minutes after the meeting at which the contract was agreed upon, he and Mr Hornblow bad raised the sum of £550 without difficulty. He considered the present attitude of the Mayor was not in the best interests of the brigade. The men were doing good work and deserved every encouragement. The Council were only wasting time discussing the estimates as Inspector Hugo had considered every item at the meeting of the Board. MOTION LOST.

The'motion was then put and lost For: the mover and seconder; against : the rest of the Council. PERSONAL ATTACK. The Mayor then made a personal attack upon the chairman of the Board and finished by stating that he was “thinking of turning the whole thing in.” He had carried out his work in an honourable manner and lie was very much hurt that the Council did not endorse his acton. He said lie had had an intense hatred for lying and deception all his life and would not be a parly to it. The Mayor then said: “this is the conclusion of the business. I would like to tell you that at the Foxton Fire Board meeting Mr Cray made a statement that he considered that the chairmanship of Fire Boards should tie rotary. Now to show you the inconsistency of this man, two or three days after the Foxton Fire Board meeting, Mr Cray accepted the chairmanship of' the Levin Fire Board for a further term.”

Cr. Smith said in fairness to Mr Cray lie would like to make an explanation. Four members of the Levin Fire Board had been nominated for the position and as none of them would accept it, Mr Cray was compelled to accept the chairmanship for a further tom against bis personal wish.