MASTERTON FIRE SERVICE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10122, 19 October 1910, Page 6

MASTERTON FIRE SERVICE.

To the Editor. r ! As an of the Masterton Brigade, I have read interest Ihe various letters on the above question that have appeared in your valuable paper during the past two weeks. Home of these have been very much to the point., while others have only touched the question in a jocular and off-handed manner. Of the latter, I am inclined to think that the writers cannot be ratepayers, as if they were, they would treat the question with the seriousness which it deserves. Superintendent Jenkins, in his report to the Fire Board, pointed out to them that by amalgamating the two bodies concerned, and reducing the staff from 43 to 30 men, the Board would be saving at least £7O per ' year, and the Brigade vould still maintain its present efficiency. The Brigade asked the Board to receive a deputation to discuss the question, but as the Board considered that the Brigade were dictating to them, they absolutely refused to have anything to do with it. Perhaps the members of the Board were afraid that the Brigade could show them some very Etrong arguments in support of the proposed amalgamation, or, perhaps, they do not trouble about Brigade matters until the quarterly meetings come round so they wanted time to think the question over. Whatever the cause, they cannot be commended for their ideas of economy, when they will deliberately throw away £7O per year of the ratepayers' money for nothing. Apart from that, Sir, the action, or inaction, of the Board, lias caused a wrong impression in the minds of those of the public who take a slight interest in the matter. The idea is prevalent that the Brigade wish to abolish the Fire Police altogether. Such, I may say, is not the intention of the Brigade. The Fire Police have been of valuable assistance to the > Brigade, and can still be so, but half i the men can do all that is required. " If they amalgamated, there would k still be ten or twelve men told off to " do police and salvage duty, and I maintain that these ten or twelve ' r would be quite sufficient to deal with ' the average fire in Masterton. Mr I B. Gardner in his letters has pointed * out that we have too many men in the 3 fire service here, as compared with >• other larger towns in New Zealand, j and I should like to hear his opinion - as to whether this town demands so 7 many men to deal with its small i number of fires. In conclusion, 1 • hope, Sr, that this question will not 5 be allowed to drop, and if the Board " will take no action, let the rate--1 payers come forward and find out I; what is being done with [the money 3 spent on fire prevention in the town, ! i and if they do this, I am of the opinion that we.will see a.repetition „ of what happened at the Council election of 1903, when the Municipal and Kuripuni Brigades were amalgam- . ated. —Thanking you in anticipaj tion, I remain, etc., ! ERNEST G. McEWEN.