CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1628, 8 March 1884, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor, . Sir,—His Worship the Mayor, finding he has a very bad case, has resorted to the usual lawyer's weapon—abuse of his opponent," lam prepared at all times to fight the battle of the Fire Brigade with tkMayw, but I am not prepared to enter into a contest of abuse'with Mr'Mwes. That gentleman js too;well.'practised in the use of the weapon—'too; well fitted both by nature, and art t'p' ; Wield it for me to stand a chance with'him; I therefore give way and freely acknowledge at the outset that Mr Lowes is far and away the best abuser j nor do I envy him tho distinction. But lot us not lose sight of the real point'at issue. In the contest with the Mayor, 1 have the best of the argument, and seeing that no attempt has been made to combat the facts and figures quoted, this will, I think, be conceded; at any rate, I am content to leave the matter to the judgment of your readers after briefly recapitulating my uncontroverted statements. It is the duty of the Borough Council to sufficiently support the Fire Brigade, and this it has not done having contributed only £l6 13s 4d per annum for this purpose. Further, it is the duty of the Borough Council to compel payment of,"the rates, and not use the fact that it has neglected to do so as an argument why it cannot properly subsidise the Brigade. There is another little matter in this connection which I may mention as showing the Council's mode of dealing with the Brigade. Some years ago a resolution \ was passed that' the fines for chimney fires should be handed over to the Brigade, but, in spite of applications repeated ad unseam, this has never , been done; the excuse being that the Council cannot find out what these fines amount to I The liberality of the "City Fathers is- indeed deserving of our gratitude. : i I am, &C, ■ c