HIGHCLIFFE GETS ITS FIRE BRIGADE.

THE LATEST TRAFFIC SIGNALS FOR STOUR ROAD. Councillors on "A Working Wage." C.T. June 18, 1932 At a meeting of the Christchurch Town Council on Thursday some interesting matters were discussed. Notably Highcliffe is to possess at long last its own properly equipped Fire Brigade armed with proper appliances to fight fire. The infamous Stour Road crossing is to boast the latest device now being installed throughout the country known as "Strip Signals," and which is claimed to exceed in practicability and usefulness the three coloured automatic light signals. Councillors also indulged in some pertinent opinions as to what a qualified motor van driver should be paid. The illuminating fact being disclosed that in some minds the sum of two pounds five shillings is considered a good wage for a competent motor van driver, trustworthy to run about the streets nearly four hundred pounds worth of the Council's property daily and capable of performing his own "running repairs." Quaintly, it was not thought necessary to insist that he must be unmarried in view of forty-five shillings remuneration. "STRIP" SIGNALS FOR STOUR ROAD CROSSING. Following upon a letter which was submitted to the Council from Mr. R. E. Druitt, on behalf of Miss Spicer, the principal of Clonmanron School, relating that she had nearly met with an accident at the now danger-marked spot, Stour Road crossing, the Town Clerk read a reply he had received from the County Council. He had, in accordance with the wishes of the last Council meeting, again drawn the attention of the County authorities to the dangerous nature of this crossway of the main thoroughfares, and had forwarded a copy of Mr. Druitt's letter to them the drastic nature of which, as a member observed at the time, would possibly hasten action in this very urgent matter. The County Council decision is to install as soon as may be possible the "Strip" control signals at this point. This is a later and far more advanced system of controlling traffic at dangerous corners than the automatic signals of lights. It is in general use in U.S.A., and will doubtless supersede all other signals in this country, inasmuch as it is a common sense method and makes for a speedy clearance of traffic. The three-coloured disc system operating upon an automatic principal at times needlessly holds up motorists in order to await the automatic period between the "stop" and "go" light signals. The system proposed, however, for Stour Road is literally controlled by the actual traffic itself, and a motorist approaching an "empty" corner will not be held up, the strip signal advising him that his road is clear. Unseen traffic, however, will at once record itself and place the signal against him, whilst his presence is also announced to the other unseen approaching vehicle. . This is very satisfactory news indeed for the very large number of local motorists who daily cross this point, in addition to the flow of main road users.

HIGHCLIFFE'S FIRE BRIGADE. It was decided that the management of the Highcliffe Fire Brigade be taken over by the Town Council, and that an auxiliary brigade consisting of three men and an officer, under the control of the Captain of the Christchurch Fire Brigade be formed forthwith at Highcliffe, and the personnel be: Officer, Mr. F.J. Proudley, 5, Gordon Road, Highcliffe; Mr. E. Broom, 11, Heath Road, Walkford; Mr. R.J. Cobb, Glen cottage, Gordon Road, Highcliffe; and Mr. J. Meadus, Lymington Road, Highcliffe. The officer be equipped with a uniform costing 13 7s., and the firemen be likewise uniformed at a cost of 26 6s. 6d. They will also be equipped with 15 pairs of instantaneous couplings at a cost of 13 to augment the hose taken over from the old Highcliffe Brigade. The somewhat heavy fire escape is to be announced in journals devoted to the interests of fire fighting as for sale, and with the resultant money (if a sale is effected) the latest fire fighting devices will be purchased. Councillor Spickernell, chairman of the Municipal Committee, explained that the escape was too heavy for work over a widespread territory, but eminently suitable for a school or big institution where its moving was more or less confined to short distances. As it is useless for the work which might be demanded; it would be more to their interests to sell it. It was, therefore, proposed to advertise it in the Fire Journal. COUNCILLOR MARTIN ON ADVERTISING. Councillor Martin drew attention to the folly of the spasmodic advertiser. One insertion, he said, would arouse perhaps but little interest. The first announcement of the wish to sell would in all likelihood produce no replies, whereas a second might bring forth half a dozen. This was no criticism of the medium suggested, the Fire Journal, but the common procedure. .It was decided, therefore, to announce the fire escape as for sale. MAROON TO GIVE ALARMS. It was proposed to install an electric syren for the purpose of giving alarm and notice of an outbreak of fire. The cost of the syren being approximately 3 3s., a further charge Of 4 15s. for putting in the service, and a quarterly agreed payment of 10s. for current. Councillor Prichard asked what had been previously employed for giving alarms, and was told of the now famous bell attached to the Sea Corner Garage. Councillor Prichard: Then carry on with the bell. Councillor Shave pleaded for the syren. Firemen at Purewell and Stanpit would hear it. He derided the suggestion that they should carry on with this obsolete bell; this community was now in their care. Would not the County Council assist in breaking the cost by having the current additionally for the police station. Councillor Ellis Wrigley advised the Council that this expense at the present time could not be considered a necessity; he personally regarded it as a lot of unnecessary expense. He suggested maroons. It will be a big saving and just as effective. (A voice: Bravo Highcliffe!) Councillor Fred Gelsthorpe suggested that maroons might be effective for 364 days of the year, but confusion would ensue on November 5th. The Mayor proposed, in view of the admirable suggestion made by Councillor Wrigley of maroons, that the matter be referred back to the Municipal Committee to deal with in this respect. This was agreed.

FRUIT STALL FOR MUDEFORD BEACH? Arising from an application by Mrs. W. Derham, of 9, Livingstone Road, Christchurch, for permission to a erect a sweet, mineral and fruit stall on Mudeford beach, Councillor H.J. Martin said that careful consideration was necessary in regard to this application. It was not the simple matter it appeared, as the council by its granting will be providing a precedent. The Beach Committee should be given time and opportunity to sit down and discuss the question, and he would suggest that they go into it very carefully indeed. It would never do at some future time to have it said that theirs was the responsibility of initiating this sort of thing. Alderman Dr. Hartford suggested that as the summer was apparently upon us, a prompt decision on this from the applicant's view was essential Councillor Gelsthorpe joined him in this contention, but in view of the resolution which had been put to the meeting he would support it, there may be many unforeseen possibilities. It was arranged for the Beach Committee to deal with the application in order that a decision could be announced at the next Council meeting. FUR AND FEATHER, EXHIBITION Regarding the amended application from this Society, who now wished to use the Town Hall Assembly Room for their September exhibition some discussion arose as to the wisdom of employing this public hall for such a purpose. Councillor W. G. Spickernell said that he wondered if the Town Hall was an ideal place for this exhibition, and Councillor H. J. Martin drew an uninviting picture of birds and animals being shut up in the not too well ventilated room for some two and a half days. Councillor F. Gelsthorpe: Almost all the entries will arrive in the early morning of the day of actual exhibition and the bulk of them will be gone by night. Upon the last occasion of the show there were no disasters or public epidemics following upon the use of the hall. It ill became the Council to attempt a knowledge and cleverness in respect to imagined ills and evils attendant upon fur and feather exhibitions, and telling experts in such matters what they should not do. It was straining at a gnat. Councillor F. Donovan Lane said that he greatly feared that if permission were refused to allow the Society to use the Town Hall, the Society, whose financial strength was but slender, might cease to exist. He urged them to remember that only a small profit was made last year. The Chairman (his Worship the Mayor) said that he feared he must agree that the public assembly room of the Town Hall, which was used for human assemblies, was hardly suitable for such use as the Society suggested. Councillor Jesse Spencer suggested that the land at the rear of the Town Hall would prove admirable for the purpose by the erection of a marquee, and it should admirably serve the ends and needs of the Fur and Feather Society. It was finally decided not to allow the use of the Town Hall for this purpose. SKILL AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR 2 5s. The Borough Surveyor, seeking authorisation to invite applications for the appointment of a man to drive the new refuse removal lorry, at a wage of 2 10s. per week, prompted Councillor F. Gelsthorpe to ask "Have we got a lorry?" The Mayor replied that it had not arrived yet,

(It will be remembered that the Council at a recent meeting accepted the tender of Messrs. The Sea Corner and Glen Garages, of Highcliffe, for the supply of a Morris Commercial refuse and collecting vehicle at a price of 331 10s., including painting and lettering). A general discussion then arose as to the possibility of getting a suitable man for a wage of 2 5s. Councillor Jesse Spencer denounced the suggestion that a servant of the Council be asked to drive around the streets daily practically 400 worth of machinery and over such a distance be asked to accept 2 5s. In his opinion 2 10s. was little enough. Councillor A. E. Shave agreed. The man they sought to have the responsibility of the van, be capable of effecting his own "running repairs," and yet be placed upon a level with a man who used only a shovel and broom. Where did they expect to find a man such as they sought for two pounds and five shillings a week? The hours, he understood, were 47 per week, and considering that this driver must possess some mechanical knowledge and skill, he was of opinion that 2 10s. was not too high a wage. It was decided to invite applications for the post at that salary.