FIRE FIGHTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1938, Page 11

FIRE FIGHTING

PHYSICAL FITNESS

AUSTRALIAN EXAMPLE

Enthusiasm for the fine physical condition of members of Australian fire brigades was expressed by Mr. Marcus Marks, of Wellington, who returned by the. Awatea today from an extended visit to Australia.

Mr. Marks, who is a member of the Wellington Fire Board, said that he saw splendid exhibitions of fire-fight-ing work in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The authorities in those centres believed in the perfection of the men in the way of physical work, and he saw exhibitions which would have done credit to gymnastic clubs. Now that Wellington had a fire station and yard he hoped that the public would be interested .in fire-fighting work. He had always favoured exhibitions as a means of securing the interest of the public, and had advocated exhibitions as something which the public could appreciate. Mr. Marks is also a member of the Wellington Free Ambulance, and during his visit inspected the Australian ambulance systems. The Australian service was not absolutely free, as Wellington's was, he said. He was surprised that the rest of New Zealand had not adopted the Wellington system.

Australia was growing ai an enormous pace, said Mr. Mark/, and King's Cross, Sydney, where 2000 flats had been built, was the liveliest spot that he knew of in the world. Everything edible could be purchased in the vicinity, and the place, was a scene of activity night and day.

"Although New Zealand has had a bad winter, the weather has been bad everywhere," he said. "I have never before experienced such a cold winter in Brisbane."

Mils. -£ £