VOLUNTEER FIRE POLICE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2286, 21 October 1914, Page 9

VOLUNTEER FIRE POLICE

ANNUAL MEETING.

. The fourteenth annual meeting of tho Wellington .Volunteer Fire Police and Fire.Corps was held in the Mayor's Room last night. Councillor W. H. P. Barber presided at the opening of the meeting, and his place was later taken by tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke). There was an attendance of about 30, including Mr. l'\ Cohen and several councillors; ,The annual Teport showed that tho membership totalled 22. Of that number eleven resided in the city, one m South Wellington, three in Brooklyn, three at Kilbirnie, one in Karori, ono in Khandhllah, and two in Maranui. Provision wa-s being made for the total membership of fifty. Suburban and city members responded to calls with eagerness and promptness, and in several instances had been tho means of checking the progress of a fire until the arrival of the brigade, which othorwise would have resulted seriously. It was pleasing to note that no friction with the public had occurred at fifes, and there was. an absence of reports of pillaging of any serious, nature. t No fires of a very serious nature had occurred during the year. The annual balance-sheet showed the receipts for the year to be £51 10s. 4d., against last year's total of £48 9s. 7d. The expenditure was £53 18s. 6d., as against £34 7s. lid. A balance of £40 os. 9d. was left, : as'against last year's balance of £42- Bs. 'lid. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of officers resulted:— Captain, Mr. J. Wright;- lieutenants, Messrs. T. Ballinger, J. Cusack, J. A. Short, and A. Asher; treasurer, Mr. F. Ckihen; auditors, Messrs. J. Brown and i.. Bellinger. The Mayorj oh behalf of the city,' congratulated tho members on the .very good work they had done during tho year. They, had proved a valuable adjunct to the City Fire Brigade, and, although there had not heen any serious fires during the year, the volunteer members had done all they s could 't<i assist in saying life and p'roperty. Mr. Luke went 011 to refer-to the fact that the City Council had always realised the necessity for up-to-date _ firefighting appliances. They appreciated very much the services of the Fire Brigade, and ho remarked that they would not have been Iso perfect had it not been for an'energetic, chairman and Fire Committee. He contended that it_ was much better for the City Council to control the Fire Brigade, and not hand control over to a Fire Board. '.Plans for the future included the erection of an up-to-date fire station in tho southern end-of the city. Ho again thanked the ' members for their services, and 6aid he knew they could be trusted for the same conscientious duty during the coming year. •_ • Members were then sworn in for the ensuing year. 1 Mr. F. Cohen suggested that it was time the corps received some support from the fire underwriters for the work they. did; The members actually had to pay ss. per year for the right to perform a public duty. A toast was drunk to Captain Wright' and members of the Fire Police. Mr. Barber, in moving it, spoTce in eulogistic terns of their services. Additional property each year had to be protected. ' Captain Wright responded, and thanked- Superintendent Tait for tho courtesy shown to members during the year.. The Mayor of Karori (Mr. W. T. Hildreth) proposed the. toast of the Fire Brigade Committee, to which Councillors J. Godbor, M. F. Luckie, J. Fuller,; L. M'Kenzsie, T. 0. A. Hislop, and Thompson responded. Councillor R. Fletcher proposed the toast- of . the Fire Brigade, coupled'with the name of -Superintendent Tait, who responded. • A toast to the Mayor concluded the gathering.