BIG EVENT FOR ’46

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21923, 18 January 1946, Page 4

BIG EVENT FOR ’46

FIRE BRIGADE CONFERENCE

ACCOMMODATION SOUGHT

“Gisborne’s big event for 1946 will be the visit of 500 fire brigadesmen and their wives from March 6 to 15 next,” stated the Mayor, Mr. N. H. Bull, in urging residents of the town to assist with the billeting arrangements by providing private accommodation to the visitors.

“'The linking of Gisborne by rail with bther centres has made it possible for various Dominion-wide organisations to accept invitations to hold conferences in Gisborne, and already we have been honoured with conferences of the Women’s Institutes, New Zealand Master Builders and Ex-Servicemen’s Association, as well as several other smaller organisations.” he continued. "It is safe to say that all the visitors have been the recipients of many kindnesses from the hands of Gisborne’s citizens and have gone away as fine ambassadors for ‘Gisborne on the sea,’ ” he said, adding: “We wish to repeat the kind hospitality to the 500 visitors, and I am sure it is the wish of every citizen that this large conference, representing residents from the Bluff to Whangarei, should become advertisers of Gisborne.” Mr. Bull went on to say that the greatest worry of the conference executive was accommodation, because, naturally enough, the hotels and board-ing-houses in the town were inadequate to meet the influx of 500 people, so therefore he urged that individual residents do all in their power to provide the necessary facilities, which would be paid for at rates of reasonable compensation. This was a matter of urgency as the executive must know by January 30 the possibility of accommodating the visitors. Early notification was heeded so that all other arrangements could be made.

The hosts would not be expected to provide transport for their guests, Mr. Bull pointed out.