FITZROY FIRE BRIGADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1922, Page 4

FITZROY FIRE BRIGADE.

WHO OWNS THE GEAR? ratepayers taking action. The Fitzroy Fire Brigade officially ceases to exist to-day, and the brigade gear has been handed over to the N£w Plymouth Fire Board. A meeting of the Fitzroy Ratepayers’ Association was held last night to discuss the question of compensation for the gear, as there is a feeling in the suburb that this still belongs to the Fitzroy residents, who bought it when the brigade was formed 18 years ago. Mr. R. L. Parkin (chairman of the Ratepayers’ Association) presided over a good attendance of members.

Referring to the question of the gear, the chairman said that a recent conference between the Fire Board and delegates from the association had not been ■favorable to Fitzroy. However, they still maintained the gear was theirs, as under one of the rules of the brigade it was provided that if the brigade became defunct, the gear was to be held by two trustees—the chairman of the Town Board (a body which has been replaced by the New Plymouth Borough Council) and the chief officer of the brigade. In 1912 the brigade cancelled its registration, and this, together with other factors, caused the Fire Board to say that the gear belonged to them. Another contention by the board was that when the board took control no objection was raised to them taking over the gear. It remained for the meeting to decide whether a claim for the recovery of the gear should be made or not. He suggested taking legal opinion on the matter, and, if favorable, a test case for possession should be entered upon. Mr. Parkin made it clear that the board were sympathetic, but had to guard against incurring a personal responsibility in making illegal payments. ' When the board took over the New Plymouth brigade’s plant,- the brigade were paid for it, but Fitzroy’s gear was taken without compensation. Mr. E. Dingle stressed the fact that the Fire Board were sympathetic towards Fitzroy's claim, but had to act legally in making payments. The board had suggested that the brigade should take action for the recovery of one item—an axe or a helmet—and if they ! i •p-veri judgment for possession of this, they could claim for the balance.

I tmi chairman said that it was further maintained that when Fitzroy merged into the borough the brigade gear was handed over, but this, he said, was not so, as when the status o-f the brigade was being reviewed Superintendent Bellringer had assured tae brigade that theier status would not be interfered with in any way under the United Fire Brigades’ Association. "What would happen in the case of a fire at Fitzroy now?” the chairman was asked, to which he replied that he understood the fire alarm system was being extended to the suburb. Answering a further question, the chairman said the value of the gear was estimated at about £l5O.

Mr. G. Colson proposed a motion which was eventually amended to read:

"That legal opinion be obtained as to the position of the Fitzroy brigade’s gear. and that after receipt of that opinion a. meeting of the executive should be called to consider further action.” The motion was carried.

A further motion was carried expressing regret at the disbandment of the 'Fitzroy Fire Brigade. Mr. Parkin, replying on behalf of the brigade, thanked the Ratepayers’ Association for the resolution, saying that none regretted the disbandment more than the brigade members, who were very interested in fire brigade work, and made a hobby of it. The members of the association present at the meeting agreed, to guarantee the expense of obtaining legal advice in the matter of the claim for recovery of gear.