FIRE BRIGADES

Wairarapa Age, 7 April 1928, Page 5

FIRE BRIGADES

VISITING TEAMS WELCOMED TO MASTERTON. VOLUNTEER SERVICE EULOGISED. TO-DAY’S DEMONSTRATION. At the local Fire Brigade Station last evening, the visiting teams of firemen which have come to take part in the United District Demonstration which opens on the Park Oval to-day, were given a hearty welcome to Masterton. Superintendent Freeman presided and introduced the speakers: The Mayor (Mr. T. Jordan), Mr. G. R. Sykes, M.P., and Mr. W. H. Jackson. In welcoming the visitors on behalf of the people of Masterton, the Mayor said that, he thoroughly appreciated the reasons for whieh the visiting teams were here. He considered the friendly competitions to be indulged in by the teams an excellent form of training. He drew attention to the old brigade system in England, which was run by insurance companies, and to the prominence given to the brigades under that system. That prominence was now lost, but the brigades had gained in efficiency. Mr. Jordan paid a tribute to the efficiency of tho present-day brigades. “We are all in debt to these volunteer firemen, who at a moment’s netice drop their tools and hasten to the fire,” he said. Seconding the welcome offered by the Mayor, Mr. Sykes said that he hoped the demonstration would prove to be a profitable one. He appealed to the public to support the demonstration, and concluded by wishing the visiting members ef the association a very pleasant sojourn in Masterton. Introducing Mr. W. H. Jackson, an ex-Mayor of Masterton, and a member of the Demonstration Committee, Superintendent Freeman said that Mr. Jackson was responsible for the sound financial position in which they stood. Mr Jackson, the Superintendent added, was Mayor at the time of the last demonstration, in 1920.

Mr. Jackson said that it was a pleasure to him to be able to work in the interests of the demonstrations. He drew attention to the willing manner in which the public had assisted in the past. “There is no nobler work,” Mr Jackson said. “I place firemen in the same category as a lifeboat crew. They are all out at the risk of their lives. ’ ’ Deputy-Superintendents J. Doran and R. Henderson, on behalf of the visitors appropriately thanked the Masterton men for their impressive welcome. Mr Henderson, who is secretary of the Association, congratulated the committee on drawing up such a good programme at such short notice. He laughingly commented upon the Scottish nature of the Masterton men. “Tho prizemoney,” he observed, “is substantial, but in 1920 they kept most of it themselves.” He concluded by saying that they would find it a harder task to do so this year.

The visitors, after Church'parade tomorrow, will make a motor tripß to Greytown.