FIRE BRIGADES

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 7

FIRE BRIGADES

ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

TAURANGA, February 26. The twenty-sixth annual meeting; of tho United Fire Brigades' Accident Assurance Society was held last night. Tho president (Superintendent Grubb, of 'Stratford) occupied the chair. The annual report showed a decrease during the year in tho amount paid for accident claims. Six brigades withdrew from membership, and at tho closo of tho year thoro were 102 brigades in tho society, with 2532 members. Tho contributions amounted to £IBO 19a lid, and tho payments for accident claims to £97 15s—a decrease of £142 on the amount paid last year. Tho report and balance sheet were adopted. Tho following motion by the executive was carried: —" That during the war, and as long afterwards as tho executive thinks fit, in districts with a limited supply of doctors medical certificates signed by matrons of hospitals be accented, the brigade concerned to satisfy the executive that no doctor was available at the time." Tho election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Captain Greathead (FJcetahuna); vioe-presidents—Captain Moore (Paeroa) and Superintendent Canton (Taumarunui); secretary, Captain Watts (Newmarket). The main conference sat again to-day. Invitations for the next conference were received from Inveroargill, Levin, Hastings, and Lyttelton, and in accordance with the rules the brigades will be asked to vote for tho locality. A motion that a demonstration be held next year was defeated. A resolution was passed recommending the executive to consider the question of classifying brigades, and report to next conference. A resolution was passed that the conference respectfully request the Government on no account to agreo to any proposal whereby the islands in the Pacific ;be handed back to the Germans, and that the Government be asked to employ all aliens in New Zelaand on useful work. Tho election of officers resulted as follows: President, Deputy Superintendent W. Couper (Oamaru); vice-presidents. Superintendent Keith (Hastings), Superintendent Goodwin (Akaroa): treasurer, Mr C. A. Osburne (Onehunga), re-elected; secretary, Captain Watts (Newmarket), re-elected; auditor, Mr P. R. Fraser (Auckland). The. usual votes of thanks to the executive and to the people of Tauranga for their hospitality closed the meeting.