The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8,1885. TEE MASTERTON FIRE BRIGADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2115, 8 October 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8,1885. TEE MASTERTON FIRE BRIGADE.

A portion of the public has expressed dissatisfaction with the work tlmt was done at the late fire in Bannisterstreet, and the members of the Brigade, being under the impression that they are not getting fair play, are seriously thinking of resigning in a body. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, they can hardly be blamed, for the public cannot expect them to do first-class work with worthless tools. The men freely givo their time for practices, go that they may be efficient in their work when the property of others has to be protected, and if they are supplied with bad engines, the public is in reality to blame, not the men. If the Brigade breaks up, the duty of providing efficient means for protection from fire will devolve on the Borough Council, and on the whole we think that if the Council undertook the maintenance of a Brigade, it would bo in proper hands. At present the protection of property from fire is entirely voluntary, for while some give their time, others find money. There are, however, hundreds of people who do not contribute a single penny, and who would undoubtedly consider themselves very hardly dealt with if their property was burning and the Brigade did not turn out to save it. If the Borough Council had the management in its own hands, every ratepayer would contribute his quota, and there would be every prospect of the Brigade being put in a state of efficiency by being supplied with proper appliances. The men would then work with better spirit, and, though we could not expect them to put out a burning building of any size, unless they had either a steam engine or a proper water supply to work with, they could do a great deal to check the progress of a fire. Before concluding, we have a word or two to say with regard to the remarks we made as to the last fire, and which have been found fault with. We said nothing disparaging regarding the individual efforts: of the men, but made a very mild allusion to the want of sys- 1

tem, and to misdirected efforts. When both the engines were run out to the one spot, and when by putting one of them to the windward 'of,;the" fire; a, thousand pounds'-■ worth vof propertymight have been saved, it was our duty, in the public interests, to speak. We do not know, and we do not care, who is responsible for the mistake, sit there are many firemen "who take our view; and who spoke out in the plainest terms. The men worked,, hard"and wellj but their'efforts were not always properly directed, •,;■