FIREMEN'S REUNION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22523, 14 September 1936, Page 11

FIREMEN'S REUNION

GATHERING AT HAMILTON PRESENTATION •OF HONOURS [from out OWN correspondent] HAMILTON, Sunday Members of fire brigades in Auckland and all parts of tli-2 Waikato were present at the 32nd annual reunion of the Hamilton Fire Brigade last night. Superintendent A. Craig presided. Included among those present were the Mayor of Hamilton, Mr. J. I?. Fow, Mr. R. Girling-Butcher, inspector of fire brigades, and Dr. F. D. Pinfold, chairman of the Hamilton Fire Board. The United Fire Brigades' Association was represented by the secretary, Caiptain T. J. Watts, of Newmarket, and a past-president, Superintendent H. Follas, of Devonport. Mr. E. W. Tabor, a former official of the Fire Brigades' Association of Great Britain, also was present. Mr. Girling-Butcher said he had always found the staff of the Hamilton Brigade to be particularly eager and efficient. He was able to state that as a result of the increased population of Hamilton, the Fire Board proposed in the near future to extend the facilities at the station. A better standard of accommodation would be provided for the married and single men. Plans were being prepared and there was every prospect that in a year or two Hamilton would have a fire station in keeping with the development of the town. Referring to the 40-hour week, Mr. Girling-Butcher said this could not apply to firemen in a town the size of Hamilton. It would mean that tlbe men Were being paid to sleep at tbe station on the chance of being called out. at the most, about 20 times a year. He thought it would be better to give the men improved accommodation and recreation facilities. The following honours were presented: —Two years' silver bars: Fireman A. S. Mathieson (21 years' service), Fireman W. G. Davies (19 years' service), Fireman D. Mathieson (17 years' service), Fireman W. A. Bryant (13 years' service), ex-Fireman V. E Forster (11 years' service), Fireman W. Baker (seven years' service), Motorman H. A. Webb (seven years' service). Five years' medal: Fireman J. W. Yates. A diploma entitling him to be an associate member of the Institute of Fire Engineers, England, was presented to Station-Officer G. Russell. Fireman S. Hague was presented with a full diploma of the New Zealand Fire Brigade Officers and Members' Institute.