THE FIRE SERVICE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20354, 10 March 1928, Page 9

THE FIRE SERVICE.

LONG SERVICE DECORATIONS. • At the Central Fire Station last evening Senior Foreman R. H. Price, officer in charge of the South Dunedin section of the city’s five department, was presented with the United Fire Brigades’ Association’s gold star for 25 years’ continuous service. Pefore pinning the decoration on Foreman Price s tunic. Superintendent A. G. Napier said it was not often they had the honour of handing over such a wellmerited decoration. The star was contributed by the whole of the fire-fighting forces of Now Zealand, and that fact alone gave added value to the decoration. There were probably six members of the Dunedin brigade who held such decorations. He congratulated Foreman Price on gaining such an honour. Deputy-superintendent J. J also congratulated the recipient on receiving the star. It was pleasing to know that it was one of those cases where the father qnd eon had gained such honours. The Price family hncl all been connected with the city’s fire service, the father, cx-Captain R. Price, having served 37 years with the old South Dunedin Brigade, and four of his sons having also been connected with the same unit. Any man who served with the old South Dunedin Volunteer Brigade deserved all the honours given him. It was' recognised as a great honour for any man to remain a member of a brigade for a sufficient r.oriod 70 receive a 25-years‘ gold star. There were not many brigades in New Zealand where men stayed long enough to receive such a decoration, hut it was pleasing to know that the Dunedin Brigade ranked among the first in this connection. In acknowledging the receipt of the star Foreman Price said he came from a firefighting family, who had all done_ their bit in the service on behalf of the citizens. As Deputy-superintendent Salmon had stated cx-Captain Price had served 37 years, one brother 23 years, another brother 12 years, and another nine years, and with h's 25 years this made a total of IC6 years’ service for the family. Foreman Price mentioned that he joined the old South Dunedin Volunteer Bfigado when J 3 years of age, and be was, there-f-ic-s one' of the youngest men in the service to receive such a decoration. Deputy-supevintendentv Salmon mentioned that one of Foreman Price’s brothel’s—exFireman A, Price—had be«n awarded a medal by the United Fire Brigades’ Association 78 .veal’s ago for saving the life of his two brothers when a fire destroyed his father’s house at South Dunedin. When the bey performed this deed of valour he was only eight years of ago. Foreman Price received the hearty congratulations of the men stationed at headquarters and of the men serving under him at the South Dunedin station.