FIRE BRIGADES’ FINANCE

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

FIRE BRIGADES’ FINANCE

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE SOUGHT. HOX. W. DOWNTE STEWART APPK.O ACHED. The ordinary business before the annual mooting' of tho United Eire Brigades’ Association was suspended for a while yesterday afternoon owing to a visit by (ho Hon. W. Downio Stewart ('Minister of Internal Affairs), who attended the meeting at the invitation of the association with the object of dismissing relations between that body and the Government, particularly in regard to financial matters. Tiro Minister, who was accompanied by Mr Hislop (Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs), was accorded a hearty reception on entering the room. Ho was briefly welcomed by Captain Lucas (president of tho association). Captain Watts (secretary of the association) made a request to the Minister for a renewal of the privileges which were extended to them in 1920. As fire brigades they felt that they were performing a national sendee which was worthy of full consideration and recognition at tho hands of tho Government. TTiey felt rhat the financial position was now' sufficiently good to justify them in asking for these privileges. The speaker said fie thought the attendance at this conference was a record in the history of the association, and should be some evidence of their sincerity of purpose. They sincerely hoped that tho men present should receive some encouragement to continue their good work. They did not wish to condemn the Government for what could not possibly ha avoided, but they felt that tho time had coma for tho restoration of their privileges. When tho increased grant of J3IOCO in demonstration year and £SOO in conference year was made tho association undertook to comply with certain conditions laid down by the Government It claimed that it hud faithfully carried out those conditions. and it. was prepared to carry them out in the future. Ho thought the Minister would realise the earnestness of tire association in the work which it was trying to carry out. Mr Stewart, who was warmly received, thanked the delegates for their land invitation to be present, and congratulated them on their splendid gathering. Ho was sure that it was a matter of great gratification to the people of Dunedin to have the demonstration hero this year, and from what he had already heard the proceedings had already proved successful, and the gathering promised to ho one *of the best they had ever hold. As they knew, the control of firo brigades and the system of firo control came under his department, and he sometimes had cause to reflect that, that was why it was sometimes known as tho “Department of Infernal Affairs.” —(Laughter.) As Minister in charge of that department it was one of his duties to assist in promoting the welfare and interests of tho firo brigades, and while they had recently boon compelled to curtail the amount of their assistance lie was hopeful that it would be possible at an, early date to restore tho privileges for winch they had asked that day.—(Applause.) But he wished to remind them (hat after the Tauranga by-cloclion, ami after the hearing of petitions about strawberries and cream and that sort of thing he migut not bo Minister of Internal Affairs at all. By that time it was impossible to say who might bo in the saddle. Those who were in charge "of the affairs _ <if toe country realised tliat the financial position of tho dominion was improving and that prices were rising, and there should shortly be a prospect of restoring some of tho privileges which they worn recently compelled to curtail. —(Applause.) Continuing, Mr Stewart said he was glad to loam that tho association had had so long a career and that it was now approaching the jubiloo of its foundation. The demonstrations which accompanied their hi-ennial conferences were of course of great value to their work by promoting a spirit, of competit.ipn and stimulating every man and every team to its best, efforts, and be understood that the conditions were made more exacting every year. And there was this very gratifying fact: that he understood from Inspector Hugo that the conditions governing the demonstrations in Now Zealand were so satisfactory and so well calculated to achieve the best results that the Brinish Fire Brigades’ Association recently instituted inquiries to ascertain whether it should not adopt in toto the conditions which liad been evolved in this country. —(Applause.) In respect to fire brigade work it appeared, therefore, that Now Zealand occupied a very high position in comparison with tho other countries of tho world. Another direction in which an advance was being made was in the standardisation of equipment with a view to obtaining supplies in New Zealand, and Inspector Hugo had recently prepared some Uuo prints for tho guidance of local manufacturers. Ho was very pleased to bo able to tell them that the results so far attained by the local manufacturers were not only considered satisfactory by Inspector Hugo, but the articles were equal to the best products which it had been necessary to import from abroad in tho past.—(Applause.) He understood that an increasing number of brigades were taking steps to see that the local manufacturers were given an opportunity to supply their wants in the vray of plant and equipment that could bo made hero, and if this principle could be acted upon generally it would be to the advantage of tlio dominion as a whole. He understood that this scheme of standardisation in * New Zealand wias arousing gic.it interest abroad, and ho was informed that stops wore being taken in England and America to see whether similar stenclardised articles could not be supplied, and commissions of inquiry had been ret up with «i view to tho adoption of the system. Another way in which the Government tried to help tho brigades m connection with such items as had to ho imported was by cabling for hose in quantities and seeking thereby to get it at a reasonable price Tho rcsidts of that procedure had proved satisfactory as tho brigades got tho benefit of the best market price. In that way the department was seeking to forward the interests of the brigades, because it realised that they were doing a work of the greatest national importance, and ho was sure that the whole system of fire control had the heartiest support of the Government and everyone who could help them. Entering upon a lighter vein Mr Stewart said ho had noticed a reference in tho press to the interest taken in fire brigade work, and he wished to state that fitoy represented one of tho fow remaining institutions that possesed a real air ot romance. In the risks that firemen ran, in t.ho arduous duties fchey h<iii to perform and even in their uniform and equipment there was something that appealed to tho imagination of the puplic. Comparing their lot with that of a politician it seemed to him that the advantages m tho way of romance lay with the fireman, and tout imresaiou had been very rnnori strengthened at tho previous evening s demonstration when every fireman seemed to have a girl on each arm. —(Laughter.) Even in his palmiest days as a politician ho had never had more than one girl on his arm. Proceeding, Mr Stewart said he did not possess a great deal of practical knowledge of firo brigade work, but po sometimes wondered rf it would be possible to apply brigade methods to the extinguishing of political conflagrations when they arose. Ho knew that sometimes he would like to have hold of the hose to stop the flow of Literal-Labour eloquence. (laughter) —but possibly the hose would bo controlled by the Speaker, and in that case the rain might fall on the pist us well as the unjust.—(Renewed Laughter.) Ho also wondered sometimes whether the brigades were not becoming too efficient, because he could recall some splendid conflagrations in (he past, toe like of which was never seen, nowadays, and also because the practice of recouping financial embarrassment by means of a firo seemed to bo rroing quite out of favour.—(Laughter.) The Minister added that ho had greatly enjoyed the display on the previous evening and ho hoped to seo something of the demonstration on tho following morning. Ho congratulated tho association on too success it had already attained, and washed it every success in the future.—(Loud apPl \Vhen the Minister resumed his seat Captain Watts thanked him for the onfouragtinienfc given to them. -Tboy realised that Mr Stowart had made no definite promises hut he had held out much inducement. and they had every reason to hope that their aspirations would bo realised. , , , When the Minister left five meeting ho was accorded three hearty cheers, followed hv the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Follow.” A similar compliment was to Mr Hislop, who took his departure a few minutes afters- .mis.

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