FIRE BRIGADE CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2003, 10 March 1914, Page 6

FIRE BRIGADE CONTROL

AKAROA CONFERFNCE.

SATISFACTORY POSITION.

(Bj Telegraph.— Freue Association.) Akaroa, March 9. Tho thirty-fifth annual meeting of tho United Fire Brigades Association opened_ to-day at Akaroa, practically every brigade in New Zealand being represented: Superintendent 6. Spriggins, Wanganui, is president. The annual report stated that matters in connection with tho association w,ere in a very satisfactory condition. The amount of assets over liabilities was £536 6s. 6d., as against £643 10s. 6d. for the previous year, being a decrease of £107 4s. That was account-, cd for by tho non-inclusion of the Government grant for 1914 of £300 which camo to hand too late to , be included in tho balance-sheet. The actual as- - sots really amounted to £836 6s. 6d. Tho number of brigades affiliated with the association at the close of the year was 127, being an increase of 3 from the last-year. The Arch Hill and Parnell brigades were absorbed by tho Auckland City brigade. During tho year tho following brigades had become affiliated: —Denniston, 'iTrankton Junction, Pukckoho, Remuera, and To Awa.mutu. Since then tho Leeston, Mangaweka, and Whakatane brigades had joined, making tho present total 130. In tho courso of the year four calls were- made for financial assistance on behalf of comrades in distress, and the total amount subscribed to date , was £176 195., for which members were heartily thanked. During tho past year the association had suffered loss'by the death of one of their most esteemed past presidents, viz., the late Mr. J.' Hughes, ■of Auckland.

The Accident Assurance Branch of the Association, was-in-a satisfactory condition. Tho revenue amounted to £233 13s. 5d., and the expenditure, which included a death claim to £137, thus leaving a profit for the year of £96 13s. ad. Tho total, fund now to the credit of tho accident fund was £1949 3s.

Tho balance-sheot showed receipts for the year £2093 18s. 9d., and the expenditure £1525 16s. Cd., leaving a credit balance of £568 2s. 3d. Assets arc valued at £736 Is. 6d.,aud liabilities total £200 45., leaving a balance of 6s. Gd. Tho report and balance-sheet wore adopted.

Tho conference discussed the follow-, ing notice of motion proposed l by the Napier Fire Brigade: "That in tho event of Territorial duty falling in tho brigade muster and the brigade members having to attend, they be marked as present on the brigade roll." It was decided, to defer the matter until a deputation saw' tho Hon. H. D. Bell, Blinister of Internal Affairs, who is arriving on Wednesday. The motion of tho Dovonport Brigade that it bo made compulsory for every intending member of a brigade to be medically examined, was lost. ■ It was decided to abolish tEo system of compulsory levies for benevolent purposes in favour of a voluntary system. A motion by the Dunedin City Brigade that; all M.F.B.A.' honours bo standardised was carried. A number of matters relating ,to comconditions were discussed, but the majority of the changes proposed wore defeated. It was decided that the drop in tho shutter discs be used at' all future demonstrations. It was decided to award the gold star to Fireman Morrison, of Gisborne, who? in opinion of tho Special Service Committee set up to consider the case, had his name improperly removed from tho brigade roll between 1888 and 1909. It was decided that manual events should not count for the high-pressure shield. The, next conference aud demonstration was fixed for Timaru. At tho annual meeting of the Accident Assurance Society, /held to-night the following officers were elected:— President, Lieutenant Mulvihill (Kumara); vice-presidents, Superintendent Wildish (Gisborne) and Superintendent Goodwin (Akaroa); treasurer and secretary, Mr. C. A. Osborno (Onehunga) • secretary, Superintendent' T, J. Watts (Newmarket). '