LOWER HUTT FIREMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 28, 3 February 1939, Page 4

LOWER HUTT FIREMEN

ANNUAL REUNION

There were few vacant seats at the Lower Hutt Volunteer Fire Brigade's table last night when the brigade held its thirty-third annual reunion./ The function was a highly successful one, and was a tribute to the espirit de corps of the brigade. . : \

In proposing the toast of the Fire Prevention Committee, Deputy Superintendent W. Drieberg said that: since the last reunion, some new members had been elected to the committee. The borough was going ahead rapidly, and was rapidly approaching city status. He ' hoped that the committee realised the need for equipment and pre- i mises for the fire-fighting.... organisation. ■ ■.;-... , Councillor C. J. Ashton assured members of the brigade that* the committee' was fully alive to the position and was.pushing the council perhaps harder than it should for fire-fighting appliances.' Sometimes, however, the,council put on the brake. At present Lower Hutt had appliances as good as those of any municipal body, but he -per-.-sonally would, like to see them even' better. He would also like to have a station more in proportion to the size of the city Lower Hutt was rapidly growing into, and he did. not think -it would be long before such a step would have to be taken. * •

Toasting the brigade, he said that.it was one of the finest, if not the finest, in the country. The: borough owed a very big debt to the brigade. It had been said that fire brigades were primarily for the monetary help of the; insurance companies. This was at best: only partly true, as the primary service of the brigadesman was to his fellow-man in need. The brigade was well staffed at present, and enlistment was brisk.

Superintendent T. W. Slirin said in reply 'that all knew his sentiments about the brigade. He thought it was second to no municipal brigade in the Dominion. If a man had the material' available, he could run a brigade without difficulty. Mr. Slinn was satisfied that the material available in Lower Hutt was among the best in New. Zealand. He, was convinced that the standard of the brigade would be raised even higher. . Trophies were presented by Councillor C. J. Ashton as follows:— ;

Gold Bars.—Superintendent T. W. Slinn (33 years' service); Foreman L. Doran (29 years' service); Fireman Fleet (31 years' service). Silver Bars. —Assistant-foreman ,H. Wilson (21 years' service); Motorman E. Hut'ton (13 years' service); Motorman E. Bird (7 years' service); Fireman T. Piper (7 years' service); Fireman R. Bartley (9 years' service); Fireman J. Herion (9 years' service); Fireman W. McGinity (9 years' service); Fireman T. S. Slinn. (21 years' service).

Baldwin Cup.—Fireman D. Heney, Fireman A. Bortley. Fastest; time: Motorman E. Hutton. ~ , :

Bolt Cup.—Motorman E. Hutton and Fireman C. Herion;

Andrews Cup.—Motorman E. Hutton, Fireman V. Mullany, Assistant-foreman H. Wilson and Foreman L. Doran.

Billiards Cup.-r-Fireman W. McGinity. : i Snooker Cup.^-Motorman E. Hutton.