FIRE BRIGADES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 238, 8 October 1928, Page 5

FIRE BRIGADES.

£he annual conference. AUCKLAND DISTRICT ASSOCIATION A conference of the Auckland District Fire Brigades' Association was lield at Onehunga on Saturday night, Mr. H. Vause, presiding. The New Zealand executive, members of the Underwriters' Association, and Inspector Hugo were welcomed by the Mayor of Onehunga (Mr. W. C. Coldicutt), who was presant with members of the Onehunga Borough Council. The 27th annual report stated that since the last conference the Opotiki, Papakura, and Papa toe toe Fire Brigades had joined the association, and the Tamaki and Avondale Brigades had been absorbed by Auckland, making the present membership 36. an increase of one over last year. Only Matamata, Ngaruatrahia and Whakatane Fire Brigades are not affiliated with the association, and it is easily the largest sub-association in New Zealand. The executive, in common with all other members in the service, were greatly concerned about excessive fire losses, but did not believe that the formation of the metropolitan areas was going to solve the problem. The figures furnished by Inspector Hugo made it fairly obvious that the city brigades bad more than they could cope with now, without adding to their areas, and it was considered that it will be time enough to take in other districts when concrete evidence was given that their own districts were adequately protected. _ The balance-sheet showed receipts £138 5/10 and expenditure £62 16/. Every fire brigade was financial. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The Bi-annual Fire Brigades' Demonstration was held at Waihi, when Onehunga won the championship shield, with 58% points, Thames being runner-up with 56 points. Whangarei annexed the Cambridge Shield, Te Aroha the Brereton Shield and Waihi the Ellerington Clock. Messrs. Hugo and Yause urged the education of school children in fire prevention. Mr. A. Freeman, of Masterton, president of the New Zealand Fire Brigades' Association, regretted that the UnderSecretary of the Post and Telegraph Department had been unable to lower the charges on fire alarm circuits, which cost last year £1846, with £1000 a year for telephones from the fire brigades. It was resolved to present the pastpresidents with a silver badge each. The next New Zealand championship demonstration will be held at Hokitika in February, 1929, when a programme of modernised events will be got off, and a new extension ladder, designed by Inspector Hugo, will be used. The conference adopted the alterations and additions to the rules made at the last conference. The election of officers resulted:—President, Mr. J. Henderson, of Te Kuiti; vicepresidents, Messrs. A. Fleming (Thames) and J. Grant (Onehunga); secretary, Mr. T. J. Watts (Newmarket); treasurer, Mr. C. A. Osborne (Onehunga): auditors, Messrs. J. A. Gray and P.- H. Hollingsworth; trustees, Messrs. J. Williams and H. Follas. The visitors were entertained at a smoke concert after the conference.