Fire-Brigade Matters.
Page 7
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Kirkcaldy Town Council has for the moment decided not to make terms with the Fife County Council in respect of the joint use of a motor fire .engine.
Merthyr Corporation has now taken delivery of its Morris engine, and a satisfactory demonstration has been carried out before a considerable local gathering of councillors and general ratepayers.
Police-cum-Fire Brigade.
A concentration scheme has been arranged at Salford, under which there will be a virtual amalgamation of the fire brigade with the police force. The permanent sti.ength of the fire brigade is reduced from 36 to 20 firemen, and 40 police officers are to be given special training: It has also been decided to purchase a petrol-motor wagon.
The whole scheme is subject to confirmation by the Salford Town Council, but, at the moment of going to press, this is expected to be given, in spite of slight opposition. We. are sorry to see that Guildford Town Council has decided not to purchase a fire-engine at the moment. It appears that the finances of the town have been lather strained lately, but we think this latest decision is a blot upon any programme of economy, and will need to be revised.
Stafford Town Council has been discussing the purchase of a Leyland engine, at 2825 with £20 for extras in respect of electric headlights, and other details. Captain Bailey is now engaged in making inquiries amongst neighbouring rural district councils in regard to their participation in a .contributory scheme.
We hear goc,d reports of the work clone by the Morris fireengines at Belfast. At a recent outbreak on the Lisburn Road, the first-aid motor had arrived, extinguished the fire, and left on its return to headquarters, in less than 20 minutes, The outbreak was extinguished before the horsed machines arrived.
Eastbourne Town Council will shortly invite tenders for the provision of a .motor fire-engine, acting upon the recommendation of the captain of the fire brigade, to which we have already referred in an earlier issue.
Salford Reorganizes.
"The Manchester Courier," in its issue of the 25th ult., quotes at some length from our leading article of the 20th April, in which we expressed the opinion that chief officers of fire brigades would do well to consider the wisdom of enrolling motor drivers, instead of their wasting a lot, of money and time by endeavouring to train firemen to dri,ye the engines. It will be recalled that we supported the view that it is easier to train a motor driver to be reasonably efficient as a fireman, during the
periods when he is available for the purpose, than to train the aver age fireman to be a good motor driver, and to endow him with the all-important traffic sense for highspeed or other roach-work.