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The Watchmen keep watch by day and by night on the Tower at the Central Fire Station and elsewhere in the City for outbreaks of fire, and also act as Firemen at fires.
They also assist in cleaning Engines, hose, and other gear.
I regret to say that it is an easy matter to demonstrate that this Staff is not sufficiently paid to induce it to stop on in the Brigade.
In the year 1898 I lost through resignation 1 Stoker and 4 Watchmen, while a seventh watchman deserted and two more were dismissed as useless. Total casualties 10 out of a Staff (excluding Engine Drivers) of 33. This year to date I have lost 5 of the 10 Firemen (3 by resignation and 2 by dismissal) whose pay was fixed at $10 in O.S. 1898 as it was found impossible to get men at $7.50 as recommended in O.S. 1896.
Casualties among the Watchmen have not occurred this year as yet, because the men have been waiting to see whether they would get an increase of pay out of the proposed increase to the Salaries of Chinese employés in the Government Service for which a vote of $14,000 stands in the Estimates for the year. It is apparent from the above that in the space of 17 months
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