The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 189, 19 June 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1879.

Ik our last issue we referral to the great fire at Wellington, and pointed out the adrantage of erecting fire-proof structures, In our present we desire to call attention to the claims which Fire Brigades have on the sympathy and support of the public. At "Wellington this sympathy is accorded, and the support in a fair measure extended, but we can hardly report the same in Masterton. It will be argued by some that at the late Masterton fire the Brigade failed to accomplish much, and exactly the same may be said of the Wellington Brigades on Sunday last, This is merely the fortune of war, On both occasions jt was a toss up whether the engines or the fire got t]ic victory, and on both occasions tho latter won, The reverse may be the case next time a block gets alight, and it would he a great blunder to undervalue the power at a critical moment which adequate machinery and skilled labor gives, It is very important for Masterton that the Brigade which has been formed and brought to a tolerably efficient condition, should receive the material support of the burgesses, The members of the Brigade give their time and labor willingly enough to their duties, and it is unreasonable to expect that they should in any way be saddled with tlip pecuniary liabilities, which are contingent on its proper maintenance, To speak of voluntary subscriptions at the present juncture, is to broad? an unpalatable theme. Still the Brigade must be sppported, and the money must come from somewhere, It would, perhaps, be move equitable if the Borough Council gave a liberal grant, because by adopting such a course each ratepayer would indirectly contribute his quota, and under tho voluntary principle the liberal man has to pay tho dues of a half-a-dozen niggards. We should be glad to sea tho Council .vote a round sum for such a purpose, and it can just as well afford to find money as private individuals can. If, however, the support of the Brigade be left to voluntary donations, we would suggest that every householder in tho Borough should be asked to pledge himself to c,o)}tiil)ute half-a-erowii either quarterly or halfyearly, We believe such a tax Avould not be objected to even at the present period of impecuniosity, and that it would realize a far larger income for the Brigade than the half-score of .£1 and £2 subscriptions which it now collects with ranch difficulty. The bulk of the setters in Masterton are exempted fron) subscription frqni the fashion which prevails of giving qr promising a large contribution. We do not believe that tjiey desire to hold aloof, indeed we feel certain tliqt if imy application is mado to them for a sum proportionate tothoir means, they will respond liberally to it. We trust that the householders of Masterton will remember that at any moment each one of them is liable to require the. assistance of the Brigade, and that it is the duty of all tp give ppthing in return be it ever so sijisll.