THE FIRE BRIGADES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18801, 2 March 1923, Page 4

THE FIRE BRIGADES.

A band contest and a fire brigades’ conference and demonstration, with the more sequestered episode of a Methodist Conference sandwiched in between, afford pleasing evidence that many roads from all parts of the dominion have led to Dunedin during the past fortnight. A large floating population is'not one of Dunedin’s permanent assets, but the reputation of its people for hospitality is in their own keeping, and is, we believe, of good report. The small boy loves a fire brigade, and in children of maturer years that fqeling is seldom quite out-grown. Time was when the great spirited horses which were the pride of the Dunedin City Fire Brigade furnished a picture never quite to be effaced, as at full gallop they carried the firemen through the streets on their mission of salvage. They have been superseded and the beating of their impatient hoofs is no longer to be heard. The demand for greater speed and range of efficiency has been met by the almost everywhere triumphant motor engine. Yet the association of the fire brigade with that which is highly spectacular, though varied, can scarcely be said to be diminished. Speed and glitter and all outw’ard evidence of constant preparedness to spring upon the enemy, the fire-demon himself, are its essential hall mark. Small wonder, considering the protective mission that it fulfils, that the fire brigade is, a popular institution, and that a meed of cheerful admiration is always accorded by young and old to the active resourceful men who for the general weal fight a common foe, and accept as a matter of course the risks attaching to their calling. The bucket, wo believe, was one of the very earliest of fire-fighting weapons, and where, it may be asked, would we bo without the bucket even to-day? The development of the extensive and splendidly efficient metropolitan fire-fighting services which have some claim, perhaps, to be ranked among the seven wonders of the world to-day, is in itself a thoroughly interesting story. The firesquirts used in London about the time of the Great Fire required, we have been told, three meu for their manipulation. Naturally the Great Fire found their attentions rather more stimulating than otherwise, and ran riot. Cruikshank has left a memorable delineation of the humours associated with the turnout of the parish engine in vogue in his

da} r . But while high efficiency on. the mechanical side has been the develop- 1 meat of generations, high traditions have ever been written large over the story of the fire brigades. We might dwell, if need be, npon the splendid record achieved through voluntary service, which still necessarily plays an allimportant part in ensuring protection of the lives and property of the people of this dominion against fire. Of the sixty * brigades that are represented at the present conference of the United Fire Brigades’ Association of New Zealand the great majority are established on a voluntary basis, and reference was made at yesterday’s meeting of the relative handicaps under which these and the Fire Board brigades labour. In welcoming the delegates on behalf of the municipality, Councillor Begg took the opportunity of criticising the Government’s attitude towards the Fire Boards. The representatives of the voluntary brigades, we take it, consider that the difficulties with wliich they have to contend are a good deal more embarrassing, and no doubt they have sufficient cause to complain of lack of sympathy and recognition in certain directions. The value of the work done by the fire brigades of the dominion is such that they should never need to appeal for public encouragement or support. Sternal vigilance on their part is the price of the general security. The hundreds of firemen visiting Dunedin tliis week will provide the citizens with spectacular entertainment of a highly interesting character, and the local public will desire to see their soioum here made as enjoyable as possible. Given kindly weather conditions the demonstration, which is the great feature of the programme, comprising a variety of events in which the firemen will compete in friendly rivalry, should he highly successful and constitute a strong attraction to the public.