FIRE BRIGADES’ CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3585, 10 March 1914, Page 5

FIRE BRIGADES’ CONFERENCE.

GOLD STAR F!OR GISBORNEITE. [PSISa ASSOCIATION TBIBWUH] . AKAROA, March 9. The thirty-fifth annual meeting of the United Fire Brigades’ Association was opened to-day at Akaroa, practically every brigade in New Zealand being represented. ' 1 Superintendent G. Spriggins, of Wanganui (President) in his annual report, stated that matters in conneclon with the Association were in a very satisfactory condition. The amount of assets over liabilties was £536 5s 6d >as against £643 10s 6d for the previous year, being a decrease of £lO7 4s. That was accounted for by the lion-inclusion of a Government grant for 1914 of £3OO, which came to hand too late to be included in the balance sheet. The, actual assets really amounted to £836 6s 6d. Idle number of brigades affiliated with the Association at the close, of the year was 127, being an increase of three from last year. The Archill and Parnell brigades were absorbed by the Auckland City Brigade, and during the year the following brigades had become affiliated : Denniston, Frankton Junction, Pukekohe, Remuera, Te Awamutu. Since then Lees ton, Mangaweka and Whakatane brigades had joined, making the present total 130. In course of the year four calls were made for financial assistance on behalf of comrades in distress, and the total amount subscribed to date was £176 19s. for which members were heartily thanked. During the past year the Association had suffered the loss by death of one of their most esteemed past presidents, viz., the late Mr J. Hughes, of Auckland. The accident assurance branch of the Association was in a satisfactory condition. The revenue amounted to £233 13s sd. and the expenditure. which included a death claim, to £137, thus leaving a profit for the year of £96 13s sd. The total fund now to the credit of the accident fund was £1949 3s. The balance sheet showed receipts For the year £2093 18s 9d and exnenditure £1525 16s Gd. leaving a credit balance of £S6S 2s 3d. The assets were valued at £736 Is 6d and liabilities at £2OO 4s, leaving a balance of £536 6s 6d. The report and balance sheet were adopted. The conference discussed the following notice of motion proposed by the Napier Fire Brigade: “That in the event of territorial duty falling with a brigade muster and brigade members having to attend, they be marked present on the brigade roll.” It was decided to defer the matter until a deputation saw Hon. F. H. W. 8011, Minister for Internal Affairs, who is arriving on Wednesday. The motion of the Devonport Brigade “That it be made compulsory for every intending member of brigades to be medically examined” was lost. It was decided to abolish the sys- \ tern of compulsory levies for benevolent purposes in favor of the voluntary system. A motion by the Dunedin City Brigade: “That all M.F.B.A. honors be standardised” was carried. A number of matters relating to competition conditions were discussed, but a majority of the changes proposed were defeated. It was decided that drop in shutter discs be used at all future demonstrations. It was decided to award a gold star to Fireman Morrison, of Gisborne, who, in the opinion of the special service committee set up to consider the case, had his naipe improperly removed from the brigade roll between ISBB and 1909. It was decided that manual events should not count for the high pressure shield. Next conference and demonstration were fixed for Timaru.

Word was received yesterday from Mr Alex. Thomson, one of the local delegates at the United Fire Brigades’ annual conference at Akaroa, that the 25-years’ gold star had been awarded to Mr T. Morrison, custodian of the Gisborne Fire Brigade station. Air Morrison has been connected with the local brigade for the past 31 years, his service dating hack to 1883. He has been custodian of the G—borne station for the past 29 vear-. The gold star will he publicly ban'’ d over to Air ALorrison at an early da f e.