UNITED FIRE BRIGADES.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 48, 26 February 1901, Page 3

UNITED FIRE BRIGADES.

THE CONFERENCE.

[DT TELEOEAPn—rEESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch, last nighi

The. Fire Brigade Conference opened to-day. A large number of delegates were present. The Mayor of Christchurch and Chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee welcomed the delegates.- The latter urged that steps be taken to introduce a Fire Brigades’ Bill into the House. The report of the executive stated that the assets were £238 9s 2d, as compared with £lB7 13s 3d last year. The Accident Society membership was now 1000. There had - been claims during the year amounting to £62 15s. The funds had increased by £lO7 14s lid. There was a credit balance of £729 18s Bd.

An exhaustive report was presented by the delegates to -Paris, who recommended certain improvements for increasing the efficiency of brigades, particularly in reference to an increase in the number of chemical engines and improvement in appliances in getting rapidly to fires. OVER SIXTY DELEGATES PRESENT.

PROPOSED EXHIBITION OF FIRE . APPLIANCES. .

[By Telegraph—Press Association.] - Christchurch, last night.

The twenty-second annual conference of the united fire brigades opened this morning. Over sixty delegates were present, and Supt. Tingoy, of Palmerston North, President of the Conference, occupied the chair. Tho Mayor of Christchurch (Mr IV. Reece) and Cr. Gray (Chairman of theFiro Brigade Committee of the Council) welcomed the firemen to'Christchurch.

The executive reported that during the

year Archill (Auckland) Brigade had joined tho Association, and the Pahiatua Brigade had again affiliated. Tho Association had had a fairly prosperous year, tho assets being £238 19s 2d, as compared with £lB7 13s 2d last year. It had the previous year been pointed out to the executive that some misunderstanding prevailed in regard to the resolution of . ast year granting leave ‘to firemen on duty in South Africa. It would recommend that all such members should receive full credit for attendance in their respective brigades while on active military duty. . ■ The executive said that it was pleased

to noto the continued success of the Accident Society in connection with the Association. The membership was now close on 1000, and although claims were paid during tho year amounting to £Q2 14s, tho funds incroased by TlO7 14s lid. Now the Society had a credit balance of £129 18s.

Superintendent Gilberd (Napier) read a report prepared by Superintendent Smith (Christchurch) and himself, on

their visit to the recent Paris Fire Congress. It was resolved to ask the Government to print and circulate the report. - On the motion of Secretary Robbins (Hawera) it was resolved: “In order that the firemen of the colony may make better acquaintance with up-to-date fife brigade appliances, tho Association take into consideration tho advisability of endeavoring to arrange for tbe holding of a large exhibition of such appliances, say one year honee; also, that the Conference set up a committee to draft a scheme for such exhibition, and report to Conference before it closes.” -

A motion by Branchmau Souness (Caversham) to allow the service by the messenger of a brigade after the age of 16 to count as one year towards the Association certificate or medal, was lost. Another motion by Branehmau Souness to strike a small gold medal of, say, the value of the present five years’ service medal, was also lost. ;

After a good deal of discussion, during whioh several amendments were moved and rejected, a motion to grant permission to the Fire Policy and Salvage Corps to issue five year service medals, bearing inscription “ U.F.B.A. of New Zealand,” cost to be defrayed by the corps presenting them, was lost. Captain Butler, Eden Terrace, moved :

“That the Association decide on some regulations as to rank or titlo of the chief officers of brigades, and suggest that for brigades of over twenty members the title be superintendent, and of under twenty members captain ; that second officers in brigades of over twenty>•members bo lieutenant and under twenty foreman. The motion was lost.

Fireman Hedley, Napier, moved “ That Rule 1 of competition conditions ho altered to allow a competitor who has had to get a substitute, through accident or illness, to resume his position in his team when able to do so. Tho judges may, if they consider it necessary, demand a medical certificate before reinstatemeut.”

Martin, Napier Fire Police, seconded the motion, which was carried. . Tho. same delegate moved “ That _ the clause in Rule 8 of competition conditions referring to boots be struck out, except that portion objecting to spikes.” The motion was lost.

Captain Pickering (Masterton) moved “ That on all firemen belonging to the Association a call of Is a year be made, the sum subscribed to be devoted to prize funds.” He said that the proposed levy was not large, and it would specially benefit the smaller brigades which had not a large population to fall back on for funds. '

Captain Williams (Waipawa) seconded motion.

Lieut. Martin (Napier Firo Brigade) said that if the Association could help the small towns to hold demonstrations it should do so by bringing members of the larger brigades to tho doors of the brigades in the small towns. The Association would then be carrying out its proper function.

Capt. Michell (Hokitika) moved as an amendment “ That rule be altered so that the annual subscription be 60s, instead of 30s, and that £1 be placed to the competition account, the. sum in it to be available for subsidising competitions.” The words “ for subsidising prize-money pound for pound given by.the committees for competition under the auspices of tho Association ” were added to the amendment, and it was carried. The motion was withdrawn. On the motion of Secretary Walton (Greymouth), it was resolved that in future all ex-presidents should be invited to annual meetings. Superintendent Gilberd handed to the President the badge of the International Association of Fire Engineers, which that body, at its conference at Charlestown, South Carolina, had decided to^'present

•0 the New Zealand President. The Conference adjourned to next day

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS.

MESSRS SMITH AND GILBERD'B

REPORT.

BETTER APPLLANCES REQUIRED,

[By Telegraph—Press Association.]

Christchurch, last night,

Superintendent Smith, of Christchurch, and Superintendent Gilberd, of Napier, to-day submitted to tho Fire Brigades’ Conference a report on their visit to the International Congress of Fire Brigades in Paris last year. In summing up the results of their investigations, the delegates suggest that the Government should ; take steps to secure information as to the total annual loss by fire. - A department should be organised to collect such statistics, and hold enquiries into all fires. With regal'd to fire prevention, a great doal would bo effected if buildings were constructed on fire resisting principles, and proper regulations were drawn up'by experts who could make new buildings fire resisting, instead of as at present being built so as to ensure rapid combustion. Provision should also be made to prevent fires spreading, by carrying the partition walls right up to the. roof, by casing" with heat-resisting materials room columns supporting the floors, and by laying the floors at a slight grade to allow j the water to get away through openings at the lower sides. The ; skylights should- | be properly protected from falling flakes of fire. The openings for hoists .should be properly protected, as thoy are a great

help to' fires spreading by causing a strong draught to all floors. Provision should also be made'for facilitating the work of firemen by ladders -going right -on. to the roof.

The want" of care in the fitting of steam, gas, and heating pipes, and in allowing an accumulation- of rubbish and so. forth Were responsible for much loss by fire, which' proper inspection might prevent. It should be the duty of all officers to urge on the authorities the necessity for a reliable .alarm system. The report stronglyadvises the use of chemical engines, which are now only in use in Christchurch. A number of improvements in fire plugs aud hydrants arc suggested. A feature of fire prevention in older countries that might with profit be adopted here, is a regular inspection of big risks by firemen. With regard to cost, delegates found that in the United Slates the cost of maintaining firo brigades in the smaller towns is about 2s a head, while in New York it ranges from 2s 6d to 5s 9d. In New Zealand the cost nowhere exceeds Is a head, while in places it falls below 6d. The delegates consider it is worth consideration whether greater expenditure would not be more economical in the end. The report draws attention to the advantage of giving more instruction to young firemen. ~