UNITED FIRE BRIGADES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18802, 3 March 1923, Page 18

UNITED FIRE BRIGADES

ACCIDENT ASSURANCE SOCIETY.

Tho thirty-first annual mooting of the United Firo Brigades’ Assurance Society was hold in the Returned Soldiers’ Clubrooms yosteeday morning Superintendent <J ■ Carter (Sumner), the retiring president, occupied tlio cliair, and 101 delegates answered the roll call.

the Chairman extended a hearty welcome to the delegates. One pleasing feature was live sight, ot so many new delegates. Ho hoped the new members would do their work well and stick to their brigades, Tho time would soon arrive when they would take the place of those now holding office. At the last meeting in Napier Secretary E. S. Cross (Hamilton) was elected junior vice-president ot* the society, and he (the speaker) had been looking forward to installing him as senior vice-president at Palmerston North Inst year, but unfortunately tile lad had passed away. 'The speaker also referred to the death of Fireman R. Fansworth (Feilding), who had unfortunately been accidentally killed while answering tho call of duty.

At the suggestion of the president the delegates stood in silence for a few moments as a tribute to the memory of the deceased.

The executive’s report was as follows; There has been a decrease in the amount paid for accident claims. Six brigades— Avondale, Hillside Railway, Morrinsville, Tamaki West, To Awamutu, and Picton—with a membership of 104, affiliated with the society during the year. Castlecliff, Fitzroy, Gonville, Whangarei Freezing Works, and Woolston, with a membership of 64, have, withdrawn from the society. This left us at the end of the year with 103 brigades, with a membership of 1679 — an increase of 22 for the year. Three brigades, with a membership of 41, were unfinancial at the close of the year. This also makes a difference of £6 in the receipts of the society. Since then all brigades have now paid their dues. With reference to the balance sheet, the Accident Fund receipts, including balance of £1939 12s 9d, contributions £123 15s 9d, and interest £75 Hs 6d, were £2137; and tho expenditure on accident claims was £123 2s 6d, a decrease on last year of £l7B 17s 6d, leaving the balance to credit of the Accident Fund £2013 17s 6d, an increase of £74 4s 9d on the year. The Management Fund receipts, including a balance of £ls 18s 4d, were £129 2s 7d, and the expenditure £B9 19s Id, leaving a balance to credit of £39 3s 6d. The total accumulated funds now to the credit of the society are £2053 Is, as against £1965 11s Id, being an increase of £97 9s lid. Of this amount £1245 is invested in Government, borough, and Harbour Board debentures, bearing interest; and there is also £406 3s lid in tho Post Office Savings Bank. < One pleasing feature in tho year’s work is the absence of any disputed claims, thus shelving that the secretaries are paying closer attention to tho observance of the rules of the society. On the motion of Past-president Walton (Greymouth), seconded by Lieutenant Toner (St. Kilda), the report and balance sheet were adopted. Superintendent J. 11. Riddell (Spit) was elected president for tho ensuing term, Captain vV. G. (Lyttelton), who was also nominated, receiving permission to retire in his favour. There wore 17 candidates for the two positions as vice-presidents, and on a ballot being taken the following were declared elected:—Superintendent A. E. Freeman (Mastorton) and Senior Foreman J. R Wilson (Milton). Secretary 0. A. Osborne (Onehunga) was elected treasurer, Captain T. J. Watts (Newmarket) secretary, and Mr P. R. Fraser (Auckland) auditor, in each case the salary was fixed at the same amount as was paid last. year.

A motion by Past-president Winn (Lawrence), seconded by Secretary Fitzgerald (Feilding), that the honours board be on exhibition at all conferences and that it bo handed over to the president’s brigade after each conference and retained by that brigade until the next conference, was lost. This moans that the board will remain in the custody of the secretary as heretofore.

The newly-elected officers were then installed amid hearty applause, and each man returned thanks for his election. . Votes of thanks were accorded the retiring office-bearers and the press, and the meeting was brought to a close with the singing of a verse of the National Anthem.