THE FIRE POLICE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 124, 28 May 1930, Page 7

THE FIRE POLICE

A VOLUNTARY CORPS

ANNUAL SWEARING-IN

In its work of -fighting fires tho Wellington Fire Brigade has the assistance of a band of volunteers whose work, though perhaps less spectacular is important, and consists largely in keeping the crowd which invariably congregates at a fire a safe distance from the conflagration and clear of the hoses. This body is the Wellington Volunteer Fire Police, arid each year the members of the corps are formally sworn in. The 1930 ceremony was performed last night, when there was a full attendance at the Central Fire Station. Superintendent Crceke presided, and there were also present representatives of the Fire Board and of the Wellington City Council. The function took the form of a convivial social' evening, appropriate toasts being interspersed with items of enteriainment. A tribute to the manner in which the Fire Board had assisted the fire police was paid -by Councillor W. ilildreth in proposing the toast of the "Yiri Board." The fire police corps, he said, had been founded about thirty-one years ago, when it was practically the fire brigade. The brigade had grown and, while undei the control of the, City Council, the membership of the fire police had dwindled to about fourteen. When, the Fire Board was formed it had given the fire police every assistance, with the result that the membership Had grown to 36 at the present time. Mr. N. W. Nelson, chairman of the Fire Board, and Mr. W. A. Parton, a member of the board, responded. The formal swearing-in ceremony was then carried out.The toast of the "Wellington City Council" was proposed by Mr. F. Boyd, and responded to by Councillor W. Hildreth. ■■ The chairman of -"he Fire Board presented a certificate of service to Mr. W. Cayliss, who is leaving Wellington for Petone, after being nine years and nine months with the corps. In proposing the toast of the "Wellington Fire Brigade," Lieutenant G. Keys said that there was probably no other body of men who carried out such an important work so ably and in the face of criticism. He referred to the fine spirit prevailing in the brigade, and the assistance that had always been given to the fire police. ' Superintendent Creeke replied. Lieutenant, Churchill proposed the toast of the "Free Ambulance, and Superintendent Roffe replied. THE ANNUAL REPORT. According to the annual report, 549 calls were answered by the brigade during the year, and 259 of these were attended by the fire police. Attention was drawn to the fact that there had been 249 false alarms during, the year, and it was recommended that steps should be taken to put an end to them. The large number of gorse and grass fires (loo) was also referred to, and it was considered that the City. Council should enforce the clearing of the gorse-covered A series of card tournaments had been held at the different fire stations, and had helped the funds of the firemen. Thanks were extended to Superintendent Creeke, who had arranged several drills for the 'fire police during the year. It _wa3 recorded that Captain John Wright and Mr W Hildreth had each completed thirty years of service in the corps, and Lieutenant G. R. Short and Mr. G-. Ogden had each completed twenty years service The chairman, secretary, and members of the, Wellington Fire Board were thanked for the courtesy a]ways shown to the members of the corps.V Items were given by the\ f°U°™ Messrs. Meicock, Quirke, Sharpe; Mayall, Everson, Chandler, and Dean (accompanist). ■- ■ ■■''