THE FIRE BRIGADES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8679, 12 March 1914, Page 3

THE FIRE BRIGADES

CONFERENCE CONCLUDES. '. Press Association. AKAROA, March 11. ’ The Fire Brigade- Conference con-cluded-to-day. The following officers Were elected: - President, DeputySuperintendent J. J. Salmon _ (Dunedin) ; vice-president, - Captain P. Campbell (Timaru); secretary, E. C. Scantlebury ■ (Roefton); treasurer-- 1 secretary, C. A. Osborne (Onehunga) ; secretary-captain, T. J. Watts ■ (Newmarket), to-elected for three years}-' auditor, P. R. Fraser (Auckland);This afternoon the Hon;'Hi' D.’ BelT' and Hon. R. H. Rhodes addressed the'* conference. Replying to representations made, Hon. H. D, Bell said he would have to submit to Cabinet the proposal to make territorial drill count for fire brigade parades when the two ‘ duties clashed. ,Thp matter had already’ !been.settled by a former Cabinet, and . could' only .bo reopened by Cabinet. v He intended next session to -introduce; - an amendment allowing contiguous local bodies to form themselves into a ■ combined fire area. Legislation would * also be . introduced " exempting from ' liability acts done by fire' brigades in the prbtfefetidn bFJirdperty ; or to check a fire spreading. Regard- ’ mg the matter of imposing an annual charge for the annual inspection of electrical installations, it would be fair to make such a charge Where r the installation was’ perfect.' ’H’e'W'rSposed to give the fir© boards an official J status at fire ‘ inquests. H© congratulated the conference on the. advanced methods of their competitions,- and-* said they put the New Zealand brigades on a level with those of other countries. Hon. R. H. Rhodes said the inter-;.-., ests of fire brigades were thoroughly / safe in Mr Bell’s hands.' - >■ ~ A hearty vote of thanks was accofd-*" ed both Ministers. ' .The following members,Who had .' completed twenty-five years’ service," ’ were presented with gold stars: —Lieutenant F. Fisher (Greytown), Fire-., man J. J. Braggins (Greytown),-Sec—' retary J. G. Walton (Greymouth),--Fireman L. LabrOom (Spit), Captain . T. . Barber (Ashburton), Foreman A— - Thomson (Gisborne), Fireman W. J.,, Ford'(Rangiora), Secretary G. Hilton-. (Timaru), and Captain W. H. Butler--(Eden Terraco).