FIRE BRIGADES’ ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18802, 3 March 1923, Page 13

FIRE BRIGADES’ ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The annual conference of the Uniterl Fire Brigades’ Association was concluded yesterday. The president (Captain Lucas, of St. Hilda) occupied the chair. SUB-ASSOCIATION DEMONSTRATIONS. The sub-committee of the -various subassociations which had conferred with the executive reported as follows: —(1) That all future subsidies bo expended on gear; (2) that any brigade holding a demonstration and not rendering a duly-audited balance sheet within two months be suspended from all the privileges of the association until such balance sheet is forthcoming, the auditors to be the auditors of the sub-associa-tion concerned; (31 that the amount of the grant be determined by the executive according to the financial position of the association; (4) that the prize money shall not exceed £IOO. The report was presented by Captain Watts, who stated in reply to questions that the subsidy was for competitions’ gear alone, and that gear became the property of the sub-association holding the demonstration. The report was adopted. ALTERATIONS IN RULES. The committee appointed by the conference to meet the judges and examiners submitted the following recommendations; —- (1) That no handles be allowed on hydrants; (2) that the hydrant man be allowed to run on either side; (5) boots with tongues must have the tongues inside the fasteners ; (4) in the three-men event the hydrant man must finish a.t the hydrant, in all reel events no hose be taken off the reel before coming back to the starting mark, spanners to be Boz, according to the rules._ After a lengthy discussion, in which the recommendations regarding hydrants and boots were subjected to some criticism, the report was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows; —President. Superintendent W. H. Barnard (Palmerston North); vice-presidents, Captain A. Morrison (Hillside Railway) and Superintendent R. Henderson (Hastings); secretary. Captain T. J. Watts (Newmarket); treasurersecretary. C. A. Osborne (Onehnnga); and auditor, Mr P. R. Fraser (Auckland).. HONOURS PRESENTED. The Hon- Mr Stewart presented gold stars to the following, who have completed 25 years’ service;—Foreman W. Sharp (Wanganui Racecourse). Deputy-superin-tendent Perritt (Wanganui Racecourse), Deputy-superintendent Davidson (Hokitika), Fireman Cf. Leslie (Dunedin), Foreman Flynn (Hastings), Fireman Oatherall (Hastings), Secretary Boyes (Nelson), Secretary Burrows (Spit). . . The presentation of a past president a modal was made to Superintendent W. Keith (Hastings). GENERAL. It was decided that the executive be asked to take stops to ascertain if a standardised fire plug could be adopted. The question of securing _ designs for a uniform cap badge was left in tie hands of the executive. It was decided that a rule be inserted in the books that the medals for the champion team be made a charge on the committee running the demonstration. The secretary of the Demonstrations Committee wrote asking for a grant of £IOO towards the expenses of holding the demonstrations. —Granted. It was decided to accord the thanks of the conference to the Minister of Internal Affaire (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) for granting railway privileges to the delegates. The conference also accorded a very hearty vote of thanks to the press.