CO129-312 - Acting Governor Major Gen Sir Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [7-9] — Page 390

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a

pay, I should hesitate to recommend it. There is, however,

growing disinclination among the Police to accept service

with the Brigade at the present rate of pay, and the Captain

Superintendent of Police has recently found it impossible to

induce men to volunteer for the vacancies. At present there

are only 27 European Members of the Brigade, whereas the full

strength is 36. I consider that it would be most undesirable

to seek recruits for the Fire Brigade elsewhere than in the

Police Force, and I therefore recommend that Mr. Badeley's

scheme, which will obviate the necessity of making any such

radical change in the constitution of the Brigade, be adopted,

and that it may be allowed to come into force at the beginning

of next year.

4.

I may add that if the existing system of

recruiting the Fire Brigade were abandoned, its necessary

reorganization on a new basis would certainly cost the Govern-

ment more than the present system costs, even if a much higher

scale than that now submitted were to be adopted.

5.

I have not inserted the new scale in the

Draft Estimates for 1903, but if the proposal meets with your

approval a special vote for the mount can be taken next year.

I have the honour to be,

sir,

Your most obedient

Humble servant,

n.y. Gascoigne

Major-General,

Administering the Government.

my. D

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