FIRE BRIGADE WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21742, 6 March 1934, Page 12

FIRE BRIGADE WORK

DOMINION VOLUNTEERS CONFERENCE AT HAMILTON STATE ATTITUDE CRITICISED [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] HAMILTON. Monday Relegates from all parts of New Zealand were present at the opening to-day of the annual conference of the United Fire Brigades Association. A civic reception was accorded to the visitors in the Winter Show Hall by the Mayor, Mr. J. R. Fow, and members of the Borough Council. Mr. Fow said he appreciated the honour extended to Hamilton ill making it the venue of the conference. Superintendent A. A. Boon replied on behalf of tlie association.

In declaring the association's 55th annual meeting opened Superintendent Boon 6aid it was gratifying to see so many delegates present, lb was evident that the brigades were still interested in the work of the association. Since tho last conference, he continued, the association's executive had petitioned Parliament and mside requests to Ministers for the restoration of the free railway passes formerly granted to delegates attending the ajmual business meetings. These requests had been sympathetically received, but beyond the promise that the matter would receive favourable consideration when the country got back to normal nothing had been done. However, advice had since been received that tho association would receive £SOO from tho proceeds of an art union. Officers at Meeting

The principal officers at the meeting were as follows:—Chairman, the president of the association, Superintendent A. A. Boon, of New Plymouth.; vicepresidents, Deputy-Superintendent J. It. Wilson, of Milton, and Superintendent H. E. Follas, of Devonport; immediate past president, Superintendent 0. W. Tyler, of Rangiora; secretary, Captain T. J. Watts, Newmarket; treasurer, Mr. 0. A. Osborne, Onehunga. Mr. R. Girling-Butcher, chief inspector of fire brigades, was also present. Mr. K. Gibbons and Mr. F. Gilmore, of Wellington, represented the Firo Underwriters' Association. Reference was made in the annual report of the association's executive to the request for free railway transport. It was considered to be unsatisfactory to the association to find its many years of service to all Government departments in respect to fire protection not receiving due recognition. , Notwithstanding a practically- unanimous recommendation from Parliament that the association's efforts should receive practical recognition from the Cabinet, no concession had been made. The report continued that thero was something radically wrong with the attitude of tho Government toward the association since 1931. Obviously the great work done by the association was either not being presented to the Government correctly, or else was being misrepresented. It behoved the conference to take measures to remedy the situation. It was decided that with a view to renewing tho holding of national demonstrations rule 6 of the association should bo suspended to permit tho granting of a pound for pound subsidy up to £3OO for 1935 instead of the present limit of £IOO. Referring to this resolution, the secretary, Mr. Watts, said that it was necessary for the association to keep itself before the public. This object was attained' when a large number of firemen attended one of these demonstrations.

The death of the lato Captain T. T. Hugo, fire inspector for the Dominion, was referred to with regret. It was decided to place on record the idssociation's approval of the work he had done on its behalf. Less Business at Depot The balance-sheet disclosed an excess of assets over liabilities of £3579, an increase of £557. According to the executive's report there was not the same volume of business done at tho depot as in previous years, owing to the fact that the brigades were feeling tho effects of the economic depression. However, over 4000 ft. of hose had been purchased. The following members had received their gold stars since tho last, annual meeting:—Messrs. J. Aitken, Mosgiel; R. Briengan, Spit; S. W. Davis, Hamilton; J, T. Follas, Huntorville; R. A. Gordon, Hunterville; D. L. Ferguson, Gisborne; C. A. Harper, Auckland; R. J. Hinklev, Oamaru; J. Holmes, Kumara; J. W. Kane, Gisborne; L. Kidd, Ashburton; C»E, Kirby, Naseby; C. Macdonald,_ Port Chalmers; C, McNichol, Dunedin; L. Miles, Marton; A, Morrison, Hawera; J. O. H. Newbery, Sumner; R. J. Parkes, Paliiatua; W. Pool, Akaroa; C. W. Rose, Newmarket; J. S. Smeaton, Mosgiel; E. Strong, Tapanui; D. F. Sutherland, Queenstown; A. Young, Onehunga; E. J. •Walker, Featherston. The following will receive their stars at the conference: J. D. Eager. Reefton; R. Smith, Carterton; C. W. Tyler, Rangiora; J. P. Weston, Gisborne. An invitation to hold the next conference and demonstration at Blenheim in 1935 was accepted. Details of a suggested new four-men motor event for competition programmes wero outlined by Superintendent A. Morrison, Hawera, and strongly supported by Superintendent A. Garratt, of Thames. After considerable discussion it was decided to approve* of tho new event.

Papers on various aspects of fire-fight-ing were "read as follows:—"Fire," Deputy-Superintendent J. R. Wilson, of Milton; "The Benefits of Building Inspection," Superintendent A. Craig, Hamilton; "Collapse of Brick Walls—a Possible Remedy, Superintendent C. W. Tyler, Rangiora; "Theatres and Music Halls," Superintendent C. C. Warner, Christchureh; "Evidence," Superintendent W. Barnard, Palmerston North. Superintendent E. Crossman, Inglewood, explained a new system of running out a load of hose. The conference will be continued tomorrow.

ACCIDENT SOCIETY CLAIMS LARGER AMOUNT PAID [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Monday A largo increase in tho amount paid for claims is reported in the annual statement of the United Fire Brigades' Accident Assurance Society, presented to tho annual meeting to-day. Tho total claimed is the second heaviest in the history of tho society. There are now 108 brigades in the society, with a total membership of 1726. Tho total accumulated funds of tho society are £2703, an increase of £l3 for the year. The election of officers resulted:— President, Mr. A. J. Bennett (Nelson) ; vice-presidents, Mr. H. W. James (Whangarei) and Mr. D. L. Ferguson (Gisborne); treasurer, Mr. 0. A. Osborne (Onehunga); secretary, Mr. T. J. Watts (Newmarket).