FIREMEN IN CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14933, 5 March 1912, Page 9

FIREMEN IN CONFERENCE.

COMPULSORY TRAINING. THE NEED FOR EXEMPTION. [BY TELEGIUr-H.— riIES; ASSOCIATION.] Rotorca, Monday. The thirty-third annual Conference of the United Fire Brigades' Association is being held here. Yesterday a church narado was held, 132 firemen attending. „ Business commenced this morning, Mr. Boyes (president of the association) being in the chair. Altogether 114 delegates were present, every brigade being represented. ( Captain Hugo, Government fire inspector, was; also present. Ill', his opening address the president said- that during the year they had had notlling worthy of note as regards fire figh ing in the Dominion, and that showed they were getting into touch with their worl; as firemen and were able to cope with the difficulties encountered. They could not help feeling they owed a debt of gratitude to the Government for the assistance afforded fire brigades. During the past year there had been a record established in that 21 gold stars had been earned, of which 15 were to be presented at the Conference.

The annual report., stated that matters in connection with the association are in a satisfactory condition. The amount of assets over liabilities have risen from £780 12s 3d to £809 8s lid, an increase of £28 16s 3d. This was considered highly satisfactory when the item (£B9B 8s) for travelling expenses to the Hokitika Conference and demonstration was taken into consideration. During the year the following brigades have become affiliated Cromwell, Taumarunui, and Invercargill Railway Workshops. The number of brigades now on the roll is 117. The following earned gold stars: —Fireman Gronn (Marton), Captain Wallis (Gore), Secretary Martin (Gore), Captain Pearson (Dunedin Railway), Captain Addison (Thames), Foreman Kenny (Thames), Foreman Fraser (Gisborne), Sub-Superintendent Wildish (Gisborne), Captain Branch (Hastings), Secretary White (Napier), Secretary Tunnicliffe (Blenheim), Fireman Buckley (Southbrook), ex-Secretary Wilkie (Spit), Superintendent Higgins (Kaiapoi), Foreman Ross (Hokitika), ex - Superintendent Thompson (Hokitika), Branchman Carter (Sumner), Captain Woodward (Nelson), Treasurer Hounsell (Nelson), Superintendent Winn (Lawrence), Ryan (Greymouth). The accident assurance branch of the association is in a satisfactory condition. The revenue amounted to £273 12s 7d, and the expenditure, which included a death claim/was £212 2s, leaving a profit of £61 10s 6d. The total now to the credit of the accident fund is £1723 Bs. The amount of assets over liabilities in the management fund is £19 6s lOd. The balance-sheet showed receipt*—including £1037 19s 6d brought forward from last year and Government subsidy, 1911 and 1912, £700to be £2918 6s 4d. The expenditure was £2167 13s Id, leaving a balance of. £750 8s 3d. . J A deputation of residents waited on the Conference to convey civic greetings to the delegates. The president introduced Mr. J. B. Holman, M.L.A., of West Australia, and a member of the Fire Board of West Australia. In replying Mr. Holman conveyed fraternal greetings from the volunteer fire brigades of his State to the New Zealand brigades. A remit from Invercargill was moved to the effect that the association take steps to isecure exemption from compulsory military training of all firemen, whether permanent or volunteer. An amendment was moved that firemen over the age of 21 years be exempted. This was lost, and the original motion carried. A deputation was appointed to wait on the Minister for Defence to place the views of tho Conference before him. A remit from Eltham was passed to the effect that in the event of a fireman serving in. two brigades before earning a service medal the cost of the medal be borne by each brigade pro rata. 'Captain Hugo addressed the Conference. He said he had at one time hoped to be able to congratulate the Conference upon the decrease in fire loss, but Mackay, Logan's fire in Auckland would, he was afraid, 'bring up the fire loss to the average of the past five or six yearn.