FIRE BRIGADES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 52, 3 March 1930, Page 9

FIRE BRIGADES.

CONFERENCE IN WHANGAREI.

HEARTY NORTHERN WELCOME

SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

(By Telegraph,—Own Correspondent.)

WHANGAREI, this day.

The fifty-first annual conference of the Fire Brigades Association of New Zealand was opened in Whangarei to-day.

Mr. Tibbits, Deputy-Mayor, apologised for the absence of the Mayor, Mr. W. Jones who is attending the Municipal Conference at Invercargill; and on behalf of the Borough Council and the people of Whangarei welcomed the delegates. This was a red-letter day for Whangarei, which in the past had not been considered sufficiently important to warrant such visits. It was particularly pleasing to be able to welcome firemen who, instead of working for their own gain, were prepared to make sacrifices to protect the public against that most dangerous enemy, fire. He hoped the conference would be instructive, and the visit be enjoyable so that the delegates would carry away pleasant memories of the North.

Mr. J. H. Hayward, on behalf of the County Council, said the conference brought home to the people how useful firemen were to the community. Many people were apt to regard fire brigades as something which had always been, and failed to appreciate them as they deserved.

• Mr. J. A. Finlayson said this was the second occasion within six months when a Dominion conference had been held in Whangarei, which showed that the town and the North were being "placed on the map.'' It was a very great pleasure to welcome the delegates.

The president returned thanks on behalf of the delegates for the welcome extended by the speakers, and spok'? appreciatively of hospitality which had been extended the visitors from the moment they arrived.