EFFICIENCY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 146, 25 August 1941, Page 5

EFFICIENCY

DISPLAY BY LOCAL FIRE BRIGADE

VISITORS IMPRESSED

It is a pity that time did not permit notification to be given the general public that the Whakatane Volunteer Fire Brigade was to give a display on Thursday night, as,! apart from being extremely interesting, the performance of the members revealed the enthusiastic and assiduous training the men voluntarily undertake so that lives and' buildings in the borough' can receive every protection possible from fire risk.

However, although public notice was not given His Worship tlie Mayor and Mv A. J. Canning represented the Borough Council at the demonstration while the members of the Fire Board were also in attendance: Mr S. S. Shapley (chairman) and F. B. Cutler (Borough nominee) J. G?tpeke (Government representative), and R. A. Wilson and M. Gumming (Insurance Co. representatives of Auckland).

The superintendent of the Brigade, Mr F. H. Stewart, welcomed, the visitors before the demonstration commenced, this taking place near the Civic Buildings. On reaching the Square Mir Shapley gave the alarm and in thirty seconds the engine was at the corner, two leads rapidly connected Avith the main. •1 further two run out to the river and. water pumped to aid the subduing of the supposed tire.

Seventeen members of the Brigade 'J'-irl 15 auxiliary firemen wore engaged, all revealing absolute efficiency and reflecting great credit upon the training of the superintendent, who as well as keeping the brigade proper up to strength despite departures from the ranks, has undertaken and completed in a very short time the training of the extra auxiliary members. Mr J. T. White was in cliargs of the auxiliary.

The controlling of two small fires was accomplished with the use of chemical extinguishers while also exhibitions of rescue and resusciation were given. Two men climbed a building and leaped to safety into the sheet held below. The rapid mounting .of the extension ladder also proved interesting while not 'the least important part of the programme was the display given with bucket pumps which gave added interest in that they are the type used to do such good work in the bombed ■areas of England at present.

With the completion of the demonstration and the return to> the sfation Mr Shapley briefly* addressed the gathering in doing so extending a welcome to the visitors.

Messrs Wilson, Cumming, His Worship and Mr Creeke' also spoke each speaker being high in his praise of the work of the brigade members. All stated that the efficiency of the tnen was beyond any expectations, while the tribute of Mr Creeke. a man. with many years of brigade experience behind him, was glowing.