The Land Rover dispute: brigade letter, page 2

— 2 — The Shire Clerk 13th August 1970 Over the past four years this Brigade has bought from its own funds without requesting reimbursement from Council, equipment to the value of $600. We bought from those funds the first walkie-talkie radios in the Shire, for which we were reimbursed only after we had proved their value. Similarly, we bought and paid for dry powder extinguishers, for which we were paid after we proved them. After we had taken these initiatives in the face of lethargy, other brigades in the Shire were issued with this equipment by Council. We have maintained our "blitz buggy" tanker in as good order as possible even though there were occasions when lack of action forced us to take up the decrepit condition of this vehicle with Council in public session. The only major item of equipment obtained from Council in ten years was the extension of our fire shed, which even now is not as good as other brigades' facilities. Earlier this year we asked for toilet and shower facilities for the shed and were informed that these would be considered when the year's estimates were under review; we press this request again. It may be suggested by Council that other brigades in the Shire in the early stages had less satisfactory equipment than ours, but this is no answer. While we sympathise with those brigades, we take the view that their situation was due to their lack of insistence on Council for adequate equipment. We believe in this Brigade that two years' starvation of our reasonable requirements is far too long, and that it is past the time when we should be given every encouragement to increase our efficiency. With particular reference to the Land Rover and its radio, we now demand some urgent action in a matter in which we have always been prepared to pay our share. The local residents who, in addition to paying substantial rates, have also recently answered our appeal for donations for the express purpose of buying the Land Rover, have the right to expect that we get a better deal in our frustrated efforts to protect their properties. We feel sure that if Council's inactivity in promoting their safety were made public, voices other than ours would be raised in protest; and frankly we are tempted toward such action. Yours faithfully, [Signature: N. Bent] N. BENT, Hon. Secretary [Council routing stamp: PREVIOUS PAPERS; CHIEF CLERK; other faint fields illegible.] [Handwritten: DFCO — report please.] [Further handwritten routing note partly illegible: ... copy to ... Councillors ...]