FIRE BRIGADE V. SALVAGE CORPS.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 161, 13 October 1883, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADE V. SALVAGE CORPS.

If the City Council desires to maintain the efficiency of the Fire Brigade, it will uphold the authority of the Superintendent, Mr Hughes. If, on the other hand, it regards the maintenance of efficiency and thorough discipline as a secondary consideration, ife will shuffle out of its own responsibility and sit on a rail whenever it is called upon to arbitrate between conflicting authorities. This latter is precisely what the Council hasjdone \\ in some recent instances. "When appealed tsJby| Mr Hughes, it has adopted the subterfuge*!©-?^ ordering the report " to lie on the table," which practically means relegating it to limbo. Now, in moments of extremity and danger, nothing can be more conducive to confusion and loss of life and property, and nothing can more seriously impede those who are endeavouring to minimise that loss, than a conflict of authority. To an army it means demoralisation, panic, and destruction. To a fire brigade it means the partial or total paralysis of its efforts. There must be a head, whose authority shall not be questioned. He may be right or he may be wrong, but at critical moments no one has a right to stop to debate the question. If he is qualified for his position he ought t« know best. Any delay, any hesitation to obey his orders, may prove fatal.

As to Mr Superintendent Hughes, his long experience and valuable services in saving life and property, as well as the alacrity and cheerfulness with which his slightest order is obeyed by the members of his own brigade, are proofs, if any were required, of his thorough competency for his present position. Under these circumstances, he is deserving of all the moral support that the Council a«d the public can give him. We regret to observe, however, that this has not been the case at some recent fires. First of all, there ha 6 been a misunderstanding with the police (now happily smoothed over) ; and secondly, a' conflict of authority with the Salvage Corps, whiuh may occur again at any time. At present t.he Salvage Corps wears no distinguishing uniform —nothing to distinguish it from the people wh&\rush to fires for all ports of purposes, good, bad,; and indifferent, except ft pockeL handkerchief wore round fcbcs arm; which anyone who possesses or can J -yrro w a v-'hite liaadlwebief, or the f.au of a — tvell, etljiff^f-cwlco, rnaj iir.ii^..?- Ir is u,U-ee;eri. a,ud vrc believe not '.?sr.tioui fjood *ro -ncis th*.r. ':*, has been imitates h\ overgrown J«ir<-i:.itis, looter ».. ■:nd thieves, who -.^orfr uyou >v. astern but, th-ii" own, impede the operations of the Fire Brigade. «^d '^ly inteusify the ravages of the fire itself;. It is time some wholesome check were placed upon this evil, and the remedy is to give (he Superintendent the supreme control and direction of all persons engaged in saving life and property at fires.