NEW ZEALAND FIRE BRIGADES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13855, 19 March 1907, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND FIRE BRIGADES.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE,

PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.

UNPLEASANT INCIDENTS DISCUSSER (Pit, Unites Press Association.) eiIRISTCUnUCU March 18. Tho 28lh annual conference of tho Eire. Brigades' Association was opened here this morning. Tho brigades represented numl«r 103. Mr I'ayling (de.puiy-mayor) tendered the visiting brigades a hearty welcome on behalf of tho oifcv. The. balance sheet showed that the contributions amounted to £2262 15s 7d. interest £266 6s lOd, total £2529 2s sd. ■Expenditure : Accident claims, £1062 Is lOd; death, £150; other expenses, £127 Is 6d; leaving a credit, balance of £1189 17s Id. Tho balanco sheet of tho Accident Aasurarico Society (which society is affiliated lo the association) showed a b.vlanec. at last niulit of £970 6s 2d; cash recoived, registration fees, and contributions, £305 76; interest, £45 15s lid; total, £1321 9s Id. Expenditure: Cash.paid, accident claims, £116 ss; minor expenses, £15 7s; cash balance,' Bank of New Zealand. £87 5s 2d; Hawern and Government debentures, £800; balance Post Office Savings Bank. £302 Us lid; total, £1321 9s Id. The balanco of assets over liabilities was set down at £1152 7s Id. The president (Captain 1\ Boltringcr) in his opening address, said that ho desired to take tho opportunity of briefly referring to matters that might'lie of interest to tho conference. In alluding to the terrible earthquake at San Francisco be made a sympathetic reference to the death of tho firemen at the disaster. All over New Zealand tine service had been done by tho brigades. Regret was expressed at- tlio' iVath of the Ri g hl; Hon. It, ,1. Scdtlon, Prime Minister, who had alwavs taken a keen interest in matters affecting, tho • interests of the brigades. The most important event of the rear as affecting brigades was tlm passing of the 'Eire Brigades Act. Ho trusted that every brigade in'the colony would take the • licccssarv steps to secure flip, benofii of tho a± 'Under the. provisions of this net a mm era had dawned on the fire brigades of New Zealand. Ho was of opinion that the time had arrived when they should take into consideration . tho question of whether or not some limitation should be placed on tho height to which, buildings could he erected, esoociallv on narrow streets. The association slartrd 23' years ago with nine brigades, with a membership of 200, and now they had 101/ brigades, with a membership of <000. There was oriWnally no provision for accident: now their accident fund amounted to £1150. They paid 116 claims during tho year, leaving a. profit of £l, c 0 on tlm year's working. The competitions, which had attracted so nnny, firemen to O'lristchurch, would show how great had. boon tho improvement in anplianccs and methods. He trusted the delegates would have a happy time in Chrislchurcli. Ho welcomed tlm presence, of two members of the Coroiva Brigade (N.S.W.). Tho conference transacted a. quantity of. roi'Mno business More the adjournment. Tlio President, slated that, tho executive-' particularly- wished delegated to supply a 'list of the men in their teams who had attended church parade yesterday. I A delegate said he supposed that it was fo find out who was not there It was' a disgrace to see some men walking no and down outside the cathedral in uniform. The President admitted that the names of defaulters would snvo the committee a. great deal of trouble.. It w pointed, out by sovcval delegates that, they had only arrived in tho city on Sunday morning. Tho President said that any tangible excuse would be accepted. Tlie delegate, from Mount Eden stated that, in any rase there worn mcii in uniform who were a disgrace to the city. One of theip had stopped one of his men and asked him for <d. Tho man should bo arrested to see whether ho was an "imposture." Superintendent. Smith, of Ohristclmroh, stated that the man hud been locked up. The President observed that iho executive had given orders to tho team lo'product) the member in quest ion. If he wiis locked up. however, he could not, be produced. Anvliow, tho association proposed to deal with him in a salutary manner. He. wished to state, that tho men were all under tho control of tho association, and ho' was endeavouring to find out who had been concerned in a Wellington street disturbance, where one fireman haij been leading another by a chain round his leg. It was agreed fo obtain the names of the defaulters as soon a 6 possible. ,

At llio conference this afternoon a delegate from a. southern brigado, who hat] been locked up for drunkenness this 'morning while in uniform, .was ordered by llio president to retire from tlie conference end removo his uniform. The' man expressed regret for what had happened, and obeyed the order of. the president. ,