Our Fire Fighters

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 66, 15 October 1930, Page 6

Our Fire Fighters

STRATFORD BRIGADE AT FESTIVE BOARDANNUAL SMOKE CONCERT. Members or l.lio Stratford I*'iio Brigade spent; ap 1 ■ ’sanfc time at their usual smoke iuucert last night following the annual meeting- 'i ho Mayor (Mr. I*. Thomson) Was in Lite chair.

Alter the loyal toast hr I been honoured Secret ary AtiUen proposed, “Tim i’ .•■-ongh Council”. Ho said the 1 had never 'had to complain o. ; ■ (''oiniu. - iI’s treatment. Members of the Council were very sympathetic towards the brigade, and any leanest it made, within reason, was granted.

Responding, the -Mayor said Councillors were always pleased to attend the brigade’s annual function, to show ti measure of appreciation of the brigade’s work, which was entirely voluntary, a, itict which was' fully appreciated by citizensStratford was gradually growing in importance. The business area, was being improved, not by being extended, but by having ‘Wooden buildings replaced by concrete and brick structures, tending to reduce the calls on the brigade’s services. Extension, however, was going on briskly in the residential area. Since April sixteen permits had been is. sued by the Council for new dwcl. lings. That indicated that the town was progressing. In some other towns the building trade had boon slack, but in Stratford, considering tbo state of the country generally, the trade had nothing to complain \o\ Ho (thought Stratford had as efficient brigade as any other town, and tlivi.s was shown; not on.ly by tbo competitions bold in tbo town, but by the showing of the brigade at the New Zealand demonstration. On behalf of the Council he desired to thank the brigade for its workin the past, and to express the hope that the coming year would he hap. py and successful.

PLEASED TO HELP. Cr. X. 15. Fletcher said the Counqil wps a-ljivays pleased to extend whatever help it could to the brigade, but it was not always possible to meet every requester- R. R. Tyrer said he was one of the Council's representatives on tho brigade, and the happy state of affairs existing was indicated by tho fact that he found his duties very light. Cr. I). J. Malone expressed the opinion, that the brigade was as efficient as any in the country- He felt sure that the public fully appreciated its work, although, per-, baps, some of the brigade's entertainments wore mot so ael i patron-1 ised as they should he. As regardsthe last annual hall there was a J serious counter.attraction in tho football test match at Wellington. Mr. E. J). Evans proposed “The United Fire Brigades Association. Superintendent) Davis, responding

said that there wore 2-‘?o brigades iu tho Association, and membership of a brigade assured one of a warm welcome from firemen in other centres- 'file Association had been started by Mr. (filbert, of Napier, with a member of Ai brigades, confined to the North Island, but the {South Island came in later, and the Association was now a strong and influential body. One good job done by the Association was taudardisation of equipment through out the country, so that a. fireman going to a new town could at ones drop into the wor.k of the brigade there. Tho Association issued a certificate to those who completed three years’ service, a silver medal for five years, and every two years a silver bar was added. On completion of 25 years’ service the gold slar wan ,-awardied. -The star was becoming a little common, but some of the holders bad as many as five bars, indicating do years service-

PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES. Tru|)hii’s won, during tho year wo Co tlu ii presented as follows: Aitkou Cup. Fireman D. Hotelier and .1? . Jiovd ; .Suimnerlield Winter Cup, Firemen K. Hi ockleban’u, 11 .JHutcher, A. Faw_ K’lt and l> Butcher; Snpt. Davis’ Cup, Fireman E. Hroekle.bank • I’etl ie Shield, Supt. Davis and Fireman W. Hoyd. Tlio ■ Superintendent aimomjml that cups had been donated lor championship competition. by Fireman C. Fawcett (senior) and Fireman I). Butcher (junior). Two year sendee bars were presented to Snpt'. Davis, lion. Sur_ genn l , Ftevcn, Fireman id. Brocklebank, \\ . Broeklehanik, (I. Brovkinbank, id- Devins and Secretary Aitken. (dr. Tyrer proposed the toast of tho brigade. He said tin* town bad a largo number of excellent organisations, but be doubted it any other body was so well managed as the brigade. It spoke volumes lor a. Vin'uiitocai’ organ V.adion, uhat it sliould have ;{? musters in a year, and that some members should bo present at all of them.

Responding F'i reman E. Drocklesaid the efficiency of the brigade aix.jso fiom the fact that ail members Were in icompet'd oils raid hi j woiiiC at hrosSuperintendent Davis proposed I “Life Members’’. Responses were ujyjdo diy Meg-si's-. .V. Ftci.vart. E. D. Evans, T- .Lawson aiinl Hobson. Kin‘rotary Aitkeu proposed 4 ‘The Hon Surgeon’. Dr. Steven, lie said, was always prepared to come a ling and give a. talk to tho brigade whenever required. * Responding, Dr. Steven said that ho wins proud to ho associated with ji fire brigade ,because one of its functions was to save Ido, and because members of a brigade toon their lives in their hands when they ■attended a lire- ifo hoped, however, that officers of the Stratford brigade would see to it that members had not to take undue risks-j Dr. Steven concluded by proposing! tho toast of “1 he \ isitors . Responses were made by Messrs. Goodie anul Hasell. Fireman E- Brocklehaiy'k proposed “The Ladies”, referring to the valuable work done tor the brigade by its lady supporters. Mr. J. Orr responded. Mr. R- H. White proposed “The | Press”, Mr. R- L- Ferris (“Even- ( ing Post”), replying. During the evening items were given by Messrs- P. Adken, »S. G. Robinsotii, R. Hook, J. Huddlestone and C. Femmel. Messrs. L- Peek (piano) and Femmel (cornet) gave instrumental items.