FIRE POLICE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11652, 17 October 1923, Page 3

FIRE POLICE

VOLUNTEER FORGE CORPS COMPLAINS OP BEING SLIGHTED. THE MAYOR SYMPATHETIC. The twenty-third annual meeting of the Wellington Volunteer Fire Police was held in the Mayor’s room at the Town Hall last night, the Mayor (Mr R. A. Wright, M.V.) presiding. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report showed that the membership of the corps at the present time is :—The captain, four lieutenants, one secretary, one treasurer, and twelve other members. Regret was expressed that owinc to the small number of calls received the attendance during the year had been very small. During the year (added the report * the Fire Police had had a number of social evenings—one at the central station for the men of Nos. 1 and 3 fire stations, and one at Constable street No. 2 station for the Constable street and Miramar Fire Brigade; also two entertainments in the Ewart Ward, public hospital, for the benefit of the patients. The members of the corps wished to place on record the great courtesy at all times displayed to the members of the Fire Police by the Superintendent of the Brigade, his officers and men; also by members of the local police force and the Pre.ss, who upon all occasions had done their utmost to assist the Fire Police in the execution of their dutv. The annual balance-sheet showed a credit balance of JE47 17s, while the sick and accident fund showed a credit of J 650 in war debentures and .£Bl 13s in the Post Office Savings Bank, making a total of JBI3I 13s. The report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted. NEGLECT COAIPLAINED OF. Captain J. Wright complained that the Fire Police received so few calls. In the old days, when the fire-bell gave the alarm there was no difficulty about tbe matter; but when the fire-bells were discontinued they had received very few calls, and of late none. At first electric fire-alarms were provided in the houses of most of the members, and afterwards Superintendent Tait, of the Fire Brigade substituted ringing up on the telephone. The intention was that the Fire Brigade should telephone one member of the brigade and that he should ring up the others; but since then only one call had been received. There had been complaints of pilfering and damage to property at a recent big fire, and the members of the corps were very disappointed that they had not been called. a 6 they felt that they could have possibly prevented this. Lieutenant Ballinger and Mr Doyle supported this statement, the latter referring also to the reported disorder and hampering of the Fire Brigade at the (Jueen street (Kent terrace) fire. If there had be?n a strong gale blowing, or an earthquake shock at the time, the consequences, he said, might have been very serious. Or disaster might occur through the dislocation of the watersupply, as at the big fire on the Terrace some time ago. He held that every member ot tho Fire Police should be warned whenever a fire occurred, and that the cost of a few fire-alarms should not be allowed to stand in the way of their being warned. In the past he had seen looting of the most flagrant description take place at fires where there were no Fire' Police, and there was danger of It taking place again. He urged that instead of the corps being slighted and discouraged, its numbers should b ©increased. THE MAYOR’S SPEECH. The Mayor congratulated the corp* on its good financial position, and complimented the corps upon having kept together, and on the work it had done in spite of its smell numbers. Ho bad not previously heard of the "call’’ difficulty referred to. He did not think there had teen any intentional slighting of the corps. Mr Doyle; No, sir. Tho Mayor added that he would have the matter looked into and see if the difficulty could be obviated. He had always regarded the corps as a necessary body, and believed that it had done very good work in the past. (Hear, hear.' He would go into the matter with the superintendent of the brigade, and see what oould be done in regard to issuing calls to the Fire Police. He hoped nothin? of the sort would happen; but he could see the possibility of a huge ccn fiagration in Wellington with all its wooden buildings in case of a big gale O’ a serious earthquake. What had happened the other day in Japan had emphasised the danger that might arise in case of earthquake; but it bad alw. shown that modern buildings resisted tho shocks, while the old wooden buildings gave way and caught fire. The corp* had done good social work in connection with the entertainments at the hospital and elsewhere. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The following officers were declared elected, there being no other nominations for their respective offices: —Captain Mr-J. Wright; lieutenants. Messrs A.. Aslier, T. Ballinger. J. A. Short. J. Ogden; secretary, Mr W. Lange: treasurer. Mt F. J. Ballingert auditors, Messrs S. Anstell and W. J. Churchill. PRESENTATIONS. The Mayor then presented Lieutenant J. A Short with a certificate in recognition of his fourteen years' service with the corps; Air J. H. Reynolds with a seven-year’s service medal; mid the secretary and the treasurer (Messn Lange and F. J. Ballinger) with small tokens of esteem on behalf of tbe corps.