FIRE FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1938, Page 8

FIRE FIGHTING

POSITION OF MASTERTON BRIGADE. OBSERVATIONS AT MEETING OF ELECTORS. “At one time,” said Councillor H. E. Gardner, speaking at last night’s meeting in the Opera House, “Masterton had an efficient fire fighting service costing about £l5OO per year, of which the borough council paid £7OO, the fire insurance companies £7OO and the Government the balance. Then there was evidently a change of policy in our fire service. Three years ago, instead of the cost of the borough being £7OO, it was £1175 and the total cost was over £2400. The Labour Government was not in power then so you can’t blame them for that.” The next year, said Councillor Gardner, the council paid £l2OO and the total cost was £2547 while on the following year the borough council paid £1566 and the total was £3207. For the last three years the fire fighting service had cost £2721 per year as compared with £l5OO a few years ago. He was not complaining about the money as long as they were getting service for it. “Are we getting full value for it?” he asked. (Cries of “No.”) He said he would like to see an inquiry held into the Knox Sunday School fire. If he was returned he would still ask for an inquiry and see if they could have an efficient service for less 'money. Speaking as a member of the Fire Board, Councillor Kemp said he still maintained that there was a big improvement in the brigade. They had six permanent men in the brigade. The board had held an inquiry into the Knox Sunday School fire and the Inspector of Fire Brigades was present and conducted the inquiry. Councillor Kemp said he saw no reason why the result of that inquiry should not be made public. (Hear, hear.) All over the country the day of the volunteer brigadesmen was going. All the men at the Masterton Station were now being paid a retaining fee. After referring to holidays and time off to which permanent men were entitled he said that when the Superintendent received the call to the Knox Sunday School fire there were three men in the" station. When the brigade arrived at the fire another man arrived and the deputy-superintendent just afterwards. He believed that with very little trouble the report of the inquiry could be made public and asserted that the charges made against the brigade could be answered.