FIRE BRIGADE CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 749, 23 February 1910, Page 6

FIRE BRIGADE CONFERENCE.

BUSINESS' CONCLUDED.

(By Telejraph.—Press AssocfationJ ' . Hastings, February 22.

. The ;Kre '.Brigaded : Conference resumed this when', it :was visited by the Hon. D.; Buddj and Mr. Vigor: Brown, M.P. .The Jlinister bnefly responded to a,most'.. enthusiastic,-, ,welcome, . dealing ;S^pathetiojill'y.'mth'-;:ffie;.^■'■w.ork'.'of: iirbmeh;; " He,, expressed . great appreciation 'at Uio interest displayol, praised'the work : dbne,; and '.urged that better . provisibn; should be made for .recreation, at■ ■ fire' stations. : He. also '.thought a: young, lireman could earn -promotion' to' tlie highest" positions. iThe-Minister : hag' been invited ;to attend the binq'uet On, Thursday. ' ' Later •• in the: day.'a - deputation', waited on the Minister for Internal .Affairs vrith' rpference'.to. the new: law.,regarding military,; training,,. which, it was urged-'would' be : likely seriously to.taffect certain fire biigaides; .especially: . those. in: cduntry : places,*. ; whicli: were.: mostly 'made up of was members jof brigades ui der certain circumstances ■'should .be ex-' eupted.frim' the.',-provisions,,i.f ,fl t s':l»e. fence Act. --~v Mr.' Buddo, in the course, . of: a sympathetic reply, said that much had to -be thought out; before .the Defence Bill ; was brought - into >■ operation; .. He would lay .the, m itfcer :before., the Minister for Defence. ■ ■ -

The 'president of /the. conference. Handed ■fo Vioo-Preadent, Spriggins/ a. gold star medal for Fireman Bomchamp, of tbt' Won&anui. Brigade/ in recognition of his twenty-five ■ years' service; •'.{ ■.V . It was agreed; that in future : only, sec-, travelling tions and conferences, be,issued,inesp&. tive of; rank.; ;,THe election-of'officers:for <he ensuing year : resulted as '• follows: - President, J. G. Gilbeitl' (JJa'piar)';" vice--presidents, .E.. 83y05 .(Nelson)' ; and A. (Westport);\tre\surerii G. '(Wanganui), re-eltoted;', secretary,, T.{ J, >Yatts (Newmarket).- L . - ■

, Several' delegawa ■ mpke in; high terms of praiseof: tho-fire board' systc'm of 'control, ;and it was unanimously' '.resolved: "That '.it -be an. instruction" to, the; incoming executive to 'tnl»;.. steps • whereby r the .working ,of the-Fire' Brigades Act may be made- 'better, knoiwn, with ; a view .of getting .districts to .see the advantages gained;by working:under; the Fire Board." ■■ Vofe..of ''thanks;, were' passed: to .-the : Government' for; railway. passes: and subsidies. ■ .-' .{--.

•;It was resolved that an illuminated-ad-dress ;be- presented to Mr. J. ■ G. 'Gilford on . the occasion of his retiring from the position of secretary, after holding; it for .nearly: twentefive..years. Superintendent W. Lucas. (Spit),"'the retiring president, was presented, with ; a certificate • of, life honorary 0 membership, • ■ ~ i. THis concluded the business of the Association Coaforence.' 'i '■

, The -next, conference ajdd demonstration is to'he. held at HotitLka. .'. '' ,

'The meeting of .the' Fire. Brigades'. Ascident Assurance Society .was', resumed' today. The annual report was adopted. The election ;of officers" resulted as follows.— President, .Captain,. Eagletoh (Napier), vice^resid«nte,::'..Superintendent ' Bellrjiger (Now' Plymouth) and Captain Hansen ■ (Westooit); • treasurer; Mr. Scantle- ■ bury -CEeefton),;: sedretaryi-iMrV 'Si' G. Gilberd.' ' (Napier), ;,:rerelHi6d; 'auditory J. W. Findlay and W. Hodgson.