Grahamstown Fire Brigade.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5211, 29 September 1885, Page 2

Grahamstown Fire Brigade.

A special meeting of the members of the above Brigade was held last evening, for the purpose of giving expression to their indignation at the remarks made by two Councillors at the last meeting of the Borough Council regarding the Brigad*. There was a large, attendance, the chair being occupied by Superintendent Price.

The Chairman said the meeting had been convened by him at the request of several members of the Brigade, who had taken exception to the remarks made by Councillors at the last meeting of the Borough Council. He then read the report of the proceedings of the Council, and said he would certainly hare liked to see the whole of Cr MeAndrew's remarks published in the newspapers, bat perhaps, they could hardly be expected to publish .'. such twaddle, knowing his ignorance of the subject. The statement of Cr MeAndrew that the Council appropriated £200 annually to the maintenance of the Brigades, of which Shortland received £70, and Grahamstown the remainder (£130), was altogether wrong, as he would hare discovered had be referred to the auditor's report for last year, which showed the total expenditure upon the Brigades for the year to have been £196, of which Shortland received their usual vote of £70, and votes for repairs, See, which brought the total to £100, thus leaving only about £90 for the Grahaiastown Brigade. He (Mr Price) did not believe that Cr McAndrew was prompted in any way by the Shortland Brigade, and could not see how anyone could make suoh statements. The Grahamstown Brigade had handed in their resignations to the Borough Council some time ago when the question of retrenchment was then before that body, and the feeling of the men again appeared to be in that direction. He then invited discussion upon the subject before the meeting.

Captain Pearce said he felt the remarks of Cr McAndrew somewhat keenly, being an old member of the Brigade. The Brigades had also been characterised by Cr Dan by as useless toys, but he would point out that both the Superintendent of the Brigade and the fire-inspector were employers of labor, in whose factory molt of the members of the Brigade were employed, and when the alarm of fire was raised the men at once left their work, which, he was of opinion, would clearly show that the Brigade could hardly be* useless toy, when they sacrificed so muoh of their time and work simply for the benefit of the community, Referring to the statement of Cr Danby, that by saving the cost of maintaining the Brigades for twelve months the Council could insure a valuable block of buildings for £10,000 or £12,000, he said he believed that were the Grahamstown Brigade no more, the insurance companies would increase their rates of premiums by 20 or 30 per oent., even if they did not altogether refuse to accept risks in the town. Their library and sick funds were not in a very good financial state just now, while the anni* versary of the Brigade occurred daring the present month, when honorary mem* bers were accustomed to send in their subscriptions, and were the statements made in the Council allowed to go without correction, they would be believed by the public, which would doubtless have an injurious effect upon the Brigade. Mr Jas. Wright Anderson, engine* keeper to the Brigade, pointed bat that the Grahamstown Brigade had ten more members than the Shortland, thus necessitating greater expense in clothing, which had been overlooked,

Superintendent Price said he was positive that during tho last four years the Shortland Brigade had drawn a larger Bum of money per man from the Council than the Grahamstown Brigade. Speaking with reference to the leather hose, he said his Brigade had also, received 200 ft. from the same case as that complained of, and it was still in use. It had not been con* demned in London, though preference had been giren there to tanned hose, as it was less liable to damage goods when carried through warehouses. The following resolution was then moved by Fireman Brownlow:—" That in consequence of the statements made at the last meeting of the Borough Council relative to the maintenance of, and the favoritism shown to this Brigade, we suspend all business and practices until this day fortnight, to give the Borough Council an opportunity of making other arrangements, this beiog the only meani in our power of lessening the expenditure soconstantlypointed out by some members of the said Council; and that we, as a body, tender our resignation, but still attend all fires and alarms until that date."

Fireman Cole seconded the resolution, which was then put and carried unani* mously, and the meeting rose.