Waimate Fire Brigade.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 233, 24 July 1902, Page 3

W aimate Fire Brigade.

DISBAND IX A MONTH. Ad last meeting of the Waimate Borough Council, when the Fire Brigade's statement of expenditure of tho annual subsidy (£25) granted by the Municipality, was laid on the table it evoked a good deal of criticism, especially the item " i'S for delegate's expenses." The Council did not think the statement explicit enough and thought the present arrangement with tho Brigade unsatisfactory. It was in consequence of this that the Brigade held a special meeting on Tuesday evening to consider what courbe they would adopt. There was a full attendance. Captain Sinclair occupied the chair, and after reporting - the remarks that had been made, said it was in the hands of the Brigade to carry on or to end an unsatisfactory position by disbanding. He did not considor they were receiving fair play. Some little discussion ensued. Fireman Hall proposed that the Borough Council be given a fortnight in which to make other arrangements, and that at the'end of that time the Brigade disband. He thought it a pretty close thiug to quarrel over giving a man £8 for a fortnight's absence. Captain Sinclair considered they had been well treated by the outside public, whom he would not like to see suffer. He thought they should not give such, short notice ; say, give them a month. Lieutenant Col vi lie favoured giving the Council a month. If tho Council desirea other arrangements it was their place to meet the Brigade, which was very dissatisfied under present arrangements. He thought the Waimate Brigade the worst paid in the Island. In Stratford the captain took him round and told him they had £6O per year, with no question as to how they spent it. The Stratford man was surprisod how

the Waimafco Brigade existed on £25 per year and pay its own pumpeis.

I Capt. Sinclair read from the Conference's report wnere Capt. Mitchell, of Dunedin, had complained of not being able to receive the gold star without going to the Conference, but that the Conference decided to make no alteration in the existing arrangements. The motion, altered to a month and seconded by Lieut. Colville, was put and carried unanimously. In the event of any business transpiring meantime the officers are to deal with it.