GREY FIRE BOARD

Grey River Argus, 4 July 1944, Page 6

GREY FIRE BOARD

i QUARTERLY MEETING. Mr. W. H. Parfitt presided at the quarterly meeting of the Grey Fire Board yesterday afternoon, also present being Messrs J. B. Kent, N. D. Bowman, W. E. Olds, G. R. Harker, the Secretary (Mr. W. E. Bring) ano the Superintendent (Mr. A. White).

The chairman extended a welcome to Mr. G. R. Harker, wiho was recently appointed to the Board by the Grey Borough Council, and congratulated Mr. Kent on his re-appointment. Mr. Harker expressed appreciation at his appointment. It was decided to send a letter of appreciation to Mr. J. Saunders, retiring member of the Board. Tne Public Trustee was, on the motion of Messrs Bowman and Kent, appointed sole commissioner of the capital expenditure fund. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. W. E. Parry, wrote not.fying that the War Cabinet had decided, in view of the improvement in the war situation, to disband the Emergency Fire Service. He expressed his thanks to the men in the service ana to the Board for their participation in the matter.

The Secretary reported a credit balance on June 1 of £282 8s lOd.

The report of the Superintendent, as follows, was received: The Brigade was called out on two occasions during the past three months, but their services were unnecessary on each occasion. The first was a false alarm at the residence of Mr. A. Buri, Joyed Crescent and the other was to a bush fire on Tindale’s Hill. Casement windows in front of the Central Station which had been leaking in the recent northerly storm had been repaired. Upstairs, passages had also been papered and painted as. authorised. A C.T.C. fire extinguisher had been purchased and placed on the engine for use in electrical fires. The number of auxiliaries for the main brigade had been cut down to eight, with four at Cobden, making a total of twelve. I suggest that the Boara continue to insure these men for a further year. Fire calls and practices have been well attended and the caretaker’s duties have been well carried out. The annual smoko of the Brigade v/ill be held on July 22 and an .nvitation is extended to members of the Board.

On the motion of Mr. Bowman, it was decided that the whole personnel of th e Fire Brigade be included in the insurance policy. It was also decided that common law insurance coverage be made £3OOO and that the Disaster limit be increased to £5,000. A special report was made by the Superintendent on the bell tower at the Central Station. He said that the tower was in a very bad condition owing to corrosion, especially at the top where the bell hung. The weight of the bell was carried by three bolts, which were attached to a cross, channel iron at the top of the tower. This was in a very bad state, being eaten awa-y with rust. The bell, whicn weighed 5 cwt., was 60 feet hign, making it dangerous to remain where it was. He suggested that it be taken down. The tower had been up for 32 years, and had been previously patched up on various occasions. “It will have to come down for repairs at any rate,” added the Superintendent, “and perhaps it should stay down. It is very dangerous, and is a serious men ; ace to anyone in the vicin’ty.” Mr. Kent moved that the bell be taken down and in the meantime hung man-high, the motion' being carried.

A quote of £950 for a fire engine for the Cobden Brigade was received, but it was decided that the matter be deferred until a later date, members objectmg to the considerable amount required for its purchase.