FIRE BRIGADES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22392, 13 April 1936, Page 12

FIRE BRIGADES

CONFERENCE AT THAMES WORK OF SERVICE PRAISED OFFICERS FOR ENSUING YEAR [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] THAMES, Saturday The annual conference of the Auckland District United Fire Brigades' Association was held last night. The immediate past president, Mr. H. W. James, of Whangarei, presided in the absence of the president through injury. There was a largo attendance of brigadesmen and delegates.

The Mayor, Mr. S. Ensor, said it was a great privilege to welcome such a large body of men to Thames. Firefighting was a, necessity, and men must be trained to tho highest standard of efficiency to hold positions and tho confidence of the public. Mr. Ensor said Thames Mas proud of its fire brigade. Mr. J. Thorn, M.P., associated himself with the Mayor in tho welcome to the visitors. The work of firo brigades, he said, was one of the greatest public activities in which men cotdd bo engaged. The value of the service was shown in the fact that there were 171 brigades in the Dominion, with 3000 members. During tho five years ended 1933 there had been 23,000 fires, tho insurances involved totalling £30,000,000. The actual sum paid out. however, was £'5,000.000, showing that fire brigades had saved something like £25,000,000 to the people. This was a very good ground for the Government giving favourable consideration to fire brigades.

The past district president, Hon. B. C. Robbins, M.L.C., expressed his pleasure at having been associated with firemen for many years. He had found them always unselfish men, who were prepared to give their best for the protection of life and property. Captain T. J. Watts, secretary of the association, said 90 per cent of the fire brigadesmen in New Zealand were volunteers. The superintendent of the Thames Fire Brigade, Mr. L. Alexander, also welcomed the visitors. The annual report stated that four new brigades, Birkenhead, Coromandel, Westfield and Whakatane, had joined up with the association. The receipts for the year were* £3O, and the expenditure £3l, a credit balance of £lO2 being carried forward. Regret was expressed at the deaths of Mr. W. Briscoe, station officer of Takapuna, and ]\lr. C. Rose, ex-fore-man of Newmarket.

Officers elected for the ensuing year were as follows: —President, Mr. C. Bowie (Te Aroha); vice-presidents, Messrs. F. P. Wilton (Thames) and R. P. Fletcher (Devonport); treasurer, Mr. C. A. Osborne (Onehunga); secretary, Captain T. J. Watts (Newmarket); auditors, Messrs. J. A. Gray and P. H. Hollingsworth; trustees, Messrs. Moore (Mount Eden) and H. Follas fDevonport).

SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATION WIN FOR TAUMARUNUI [by telegraph—own correspondent] THAMES. Saturday The largest demonstration given by fife brigades for many years was held at Thames to-day. Approximately 200 men, belonging to 23 fire brigades from various parts! of the Auckland Province, took part. There was a large attendance of spectators. Rain fell in the morning, but the weather was fine in the late afternoon. _ • The entries totalled 150, and, in consequence, an early start had to be made. The first event was commenced at 7.30 a.m., and it was 5.20 p.m. before the demonstration was completed. Captain T. J. Watts, secretary of the Auckland District United Fire Brigades' Association, said he was very pleased with the layout of the ground, on which the members of the Thames brigade had. worked hard. A pleasing feature, he continued, was the number of young competitors, who must necessarily gain by the experience. Taumarunui won the championship points shield with 63} points, Thames was second with 53 points, and Whangarei third with 35} points. - The Brerton Shield, for most points in all events other than the reel and rescue event, was won by Otorohanga, with 181 points, Taumarunui being the run-ner-up. The Cambridge Shield, for the three men disabled hose event was also won by Otorohanga.

This demonstration is the last in which reel events will be held, it having been decided that these will not be included on future programmes. The results were as follows: Two Men Hose and Standpipe.—Te Kuiti A, 38 2-ss, 1; Taumarunui, 41s, 2; Te Aroha A, 41 4-ss, 3; Whangarei, 42 2-ss, 4. Good times were also registered by Whnkatane A, who had a 20s penalty, and by Thameß B, 10s penalty. Five Men Disabled Hoso Event.—Thames, 56 2-ss, 1; Te Aroha, 01 3-ss, 2; Taumarunui, C3s. 3; Dargaville, 63 2-ss, 4. Four Men Hose and Standpipe.—Taumarunui, 54 3-ss, 1; Waihi, 54 4-ss, 2; Thames, 55 2-ss, 3; Whangarei, 56 l-ss, 4. Three Men Disabled Hose Event.—Otorohanga A, 53 2-ss. 1; Darguville B, 53 4-ss, 2: Whangarei, 54 l-ss, 3; Te Ivuiti A, 54 2-ss, 4. Good times were also registered by the Whnkatane, Kotorua and Dargaville A teams.

Four Men Disabled Hose.—Devonport, 5Cs. 1; Dargaville, 535. 2; Taumarunui, 525, 3; Olorohanga, 58 l-ss, 4. Rotorua, 595, and Thames, 59 l-ss, also registered good times. Two Men Rescue.—Te Kuiti A, 34 l-ss, 1; Whangarei, 35'2-ss, 2; Te Aroha A, 395, 3; Devonport, 40s, 4; Dargaville, 40 l-ss, 5. Five Men Hose, Heel and Ladder.— Thames, 425, 1; Taumarunui, 42 2-ss, 2; Waihi, 455, 3; Whangarei, 46 l-ss, 4.

ENCOURAGEMENT NEEDED "DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT" [from our own correspondent] THAMES. Saturday Speaking at a social gathering following the demonstration of the Auckland District United Fire Brigades' Association, the Hon. B. C. Bobbins, M.L.C., complimented ths committee upon the manner in which it had carried out the arrangements for tho display. Ho said it was the duty of tho Government to encourage tho services given by fire brigadesmen. There had been serious neglect in the past, and ho pledged himself to do all in his power to influence Parliament to help brigades throughout tho Dominion. Captain T. J. Watts, commenting on the deletion of reel events from future programmes, said there was a heavy task before the executive. Fire brigades had to grow with the times, and motor transport had altered fire-fighting equipment. Next year's programme was in the process of compilation, and new events would be submitted at a later rate. There was a conditional invitation from Nelson, he added, to hold the next conference there, but this rested with the new Giovernment and the finance that could bo obtained. Captain Watts considered that the day's events had provided the best demonstration ever carried out by any brigade in Now Zealand.