MASTERTON'S FIRE SERVICE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10113, 7 October 1910, Page 5

MASTERTON'S FIRE SERVICE.

FIRE BRIGADE AND FIRE POLICE. ' PROPOSED AMALGAMATION. The following appeared in the annual report of Superintendent Jenkins, presented to the Masterton Fire Board at its meeting yesterday : "A matter that I would point out to the Board is that the proposed arrangements for housing both the Fire Brigade and Fire Police under one roof as two separate corps under separate heads cannot reasonably be expected to give the best results. I would therefore respectfully suggest that the Board take into consideration the question of forming the two corps into one. This suggestion, if given effect to, would, I feel sure, be for- the betterment of tho fire service of the town. I consider a force of thirty men working under one head would be more efficient than the extra number as now constituted, and, further, by reducing the number, (which is altogether too many for tin- size of the town) a considerable saving in upkeep could be effected." The Superintendent, in a separate letter, asked that a deputation be received in respect to the matter. _ Mr J. C. Ewington said he did not think it desirable to receive, a deputation. The policy of ihe, Board in the past was to have two separate institutions, and he uld not think that anything had occ'irred to warrant a change. The amalgamation of the Fire Police with the Fire Brigade would at once mean friction. At the present time the two bodies were working amicably, and were doing good service. The chairman (Mr O. Pragiell) said that personally he had no objection to receiving a deputation, though he thought both sides shorld have been represented. He was afraid that the amalgamation of the two bodies would create iric;ira. The proposal had emanated, he thought, from a few entlri uastic Fire Brigadesmen. The Fire Tuhnhad done good work in the past, and there had been no friction. Captain Dixon had always been most respectful to the Fire Brigade. If amalgamation was desired, it <;i o.ild be airanged between the Brigade and the Fire Police-themselves.

Mr J. H. Pauling di'l not tJiluk they should accept dictation from the' Superintendent of the Brigade. There seemed to him to be something behind the recommendations of the Superintendent. There had been no complaints regarding the working of the two institutions. The Fire Police did not want amalgamation. He thought that no action should be taken in the matter.

After some further discussion, it was decided that the Superintendent's report be received, and that no action bo taken.