1911 - A Stormy Meeting

Devonport Council Notebooks Post July 6 1911

A STORMY MEETING

A special meeting of Devonport Borough Council was held on Friday evening to receive the 16th annual account of the Fire Brigade.  There were present the Mayor (Mr Handley) and Crs.  Gannon Cons{}dine, Tapper [], and Quartley.  There was a full muster of the Brigade, who "fell in" and were inspected by the Mayor.  The Brigade made an excellent display, which called forth the highly favourable comments of the Council.  the Mayor then handed over the decorations.

A Balance sheet was presented and the Mayor said he was sorry he could not compliment them on their financial position.  The balance (14s 5d) less than last year.   The question of disbanding the Brigade had arisen, and he wished to hear from members their views on the question.

Fireman E. McDonald: Who [] us to disband?

Mayor: Captain Millar

Fireman McDonald then alleged criticism had been observed in engaging some rules, and wanted to know who was the cause of the demand of disbanding.

Fireman R Shaw said he was a candidate for the office of Lieutenant, (must have been L. Secretary) the record is no longer clear)

Captain Millar replies: Yes.

McDonald: Well you are not a man.

The Mayor rebuked McDonald, and Fireman Stevens explained he had been spoken to by Captain Millar about his vote.

Fireman Brown said that when a point was brought up at their meetings it was generally put off from time to time, and discipline was needed.  He wished to know what this "long standing grievance" was.  "As for the social fund, we wrote the Council for permission to hold a concert, but got no reply, and then they proceeded with the matter to raise funds specially for the Holitika demonstration trip.  It is not the Brigade's fault there are no funds, as the subsidy is too low.  Because Fireman Shaw is standing as Lieutenant then the talk comes of disbanding.

The Mayor: Are you willing to go on under Captain Millar?

Brown: Yes. This matter should be settled by the Brigade.

Foreman Le Scelles said the whole trouble arose through their having rules and not sticking to them.  Fireman Baskiville said because a section feared defeat they wished to disband.  There was no previous similar talk when they were successful in the elections.

Fireman F. Shaw The Skipper has said Fireman R. Shaw is a stumbling block.   If Fireman Shaw was out of the Brigade where would it be?

Fireman Day: Where it was before.

F. Shaw: The secretary and Captain Millar goes outside from the meetings to talk in secret.  There is no need to disband.  I respect Captain Millar and only want to see justice. 

Fireman Porter explained that he and Captain Miller only retired to discuss in private the ordinary business. 

Fireman Follas thought it would be discreditable to Devonport if they were disbanded.  They were prompt in attendance at fires and did their best.  If there were those in the Brigade who were unpopular the Captain should ask them to resign.  He would like to hear Lieut. Ridings' view on the matter.

Lieut. Riding: They can have my position at any time.

The Mayor: Is there dissension?

Lieut.  Riding: Of course there is. I am full of it.

Auxiliary Stevens said the Lieut. Ridings was only there once during his (Stevens) term of  service and could not see the real cause of trouble.  He (Stevens) had much respect for Capt. Millar.

Fireman Porter said there was a dispute about his election as secretary.  Fireman R Shaw and he were candidates, and when the count was made in his favour Shaw objected, and said that someone had voted twice. He (Porter) had called for this voter unsuccessfully, and the matter was held over a month before he came into office finally as secretary.  The whole matter was straight and above board. 

Cr. Considine congratulated Captain Millar, and thought he was the right man in the right place, and also complimented Fireman Porter as secretary.  He would not agree to disbanding unless something []

J. Gasson (honorary member) had [] had no feeling, but wished to say there had been disruption for some time which culminated in his resigning the office of secretary some months ago.  Trivial matters, which should have taken a a few minutes only to settle, used to take all night.  Some others had left on that account. 

[]T oice: "The best are left in.") In the circumstances the best course is to disband, and fresh applications be called to fill all the positions. 

This would make the Brigade's position strong, which was now going. 

A mistake was made in giving much prominence to the Social [] and the Hokitika visit should have been charged to the general fund. This was one of his reasons for leaving.

Fireman S.Dye: I have been eight years in the Brigade, and there has been nothing but rows for the last three years. Previously it had been a pleasure to serve. I have [not gone] to meetings on purpose to escape wranglings.  One member wants to alter our rules.  They are a lot of []fellows, but they have brought our credit balance to a mere no[thing] over this Hokitika demonstration.

Mayor: The Council would not [] the Brigade to vote money for the trip until they paid their debts of $6 or so.  It was not honest to do this unless it was for some urgent purpose.

Cr Considine (Chairman of the Brigade Committee) asked if the Council had authority to disband.

The Mayor: Yes.

Cr Considine: As an old Volunteer sir, I believe the Council has no authority to disband the Brigade.  Disbandment must come from within.

[Break in the record]

Some cross-firing between the Mayor and Cr. Considine over the right of Shaw to question Captain Millar brought forth the remark from Considine that if questions could not be asked they had better all go home.  Cr. Allen then left with a farewell remark, and it looked for a moment if there would be a general departure.

F. Shaw: That is my record, and now I ask Captain Millar to stand up and say anything he has against me.

Captain Millar: I have done nothing against him.

F. Shaw: Mr Gasson says we were always wrangling and fighting. That was not correct.  Last month there was []ne from the other side. An outsider saw me in Church street last night and said we  were going to be disbanded.

Cr. Gannon wished to speak, but was ruled down.

Shaw: Where did this view of disbanding come from

The Mayor: It is no slur.

Cr. Considine: The slur is cast [if] the Brigade is disbanded.

Shaw: It is said it is the Shaws causing all the trouble, so let them [st]and up here and say so.

Cr. Considine: Has disbandment ever been considered by the Brigade?

Captain Millar: I told the Brigade some time ago that they would bee disbanded if the wrangling continued.

Fireman McDonald here put some []at into a few remarks, and asked Captain Millar if he had been around [th]e members asking how they would..

again a break in the record.

notice the loyalty shown to Captain Millar.   He should be strict in his ruling.  However, "I was two years senior wrangler for this Council." said Cr. Considine, and understood the need for discipline.

Cr. Gannon congratulated the Brigade on their appearance on parade.

He had listened to the arguments and noticed evidences of eloquence in their speeches, and he was pleased they all spoke well of their Captain.  Leaders were indispensable in all walks of life. He was not in favour of disbanding, and did not think the Mayor was now after hearing the matter thrashed out.  He was sorry he had not had some notice of what was coming on so that he could have made himself conversant with the details, but wished that harmony would be restored and that the Brigade would retain its old captain.  He also favourably noticed what little he had seen of Fireman Porter's secretarial work.

Cr. Quartley was pleasantly surprised at the parade. He had seen them in service, and they had fought the fires well. He urged members to have confidence in their officers and adhere strictly to discipline.

The Mayor said they would now adjourn, and the Brigade Committee could consider the whole matter and meet the Council Committee at a date to be arranged.