FIRE BRIGADES

Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1930, Page 2

FIRE BRIGADES

ANNUAL CONFERENCE ENDS

AYHANGGARKI, March 4

The perennial topic of superannuation for brigadesmen cropped up again at the closing session of the United lire Brigades’ Association, when the opinion was expressed that faithful service to the general community merited something better than an oldage pension. One speaker remarked that permanent firemen considered themselves public servants equally with anyone else. The wording of the - Fire Brigades Act, it was stated made no provision for superannuation, and the Government advised payment into the National Provident Fund, but this was deemed unsatisfactory, and a motion that the executive investigate this phase was defeated. Several delegates spoke eulogistical!'of tlie services to fire bnVnde work o f the Hon. H. L. Michel, who performed vnenian service in bavin" - the Fire Pi’-iVade Bfll placed on the Statute Book.

The election of oflb-ers resulted:— R’-esident, Superintendent P. Deere (GreymoutM. unonnosed : Senior Service President, Superintendent C. W. Tv'er (Rongiorn) : junior vice-presi-dent, Superintendent A. Boon (New Plymouth): treasurer. Mr C. A. Osborne (Qnehunga,) unopposed. A congratulatory motion was placed on the minutes in respect to the splendid work of Captain T. J, AVatts as secretary of the Association.

The immediate past president, Mr C. E. Gilbert (Onehunga) was granted nn honorary life member's medallion 1 a”id certificate in recognition of his services, the annual meeting then concluding.

FIRE ALARM CIRCUIT

A special report of the executive submitted by Superintendent Freeman of Mnstorton, to the Fire Brigade Conference had reference to the trouble with the Post and Telegraph Department regarding the installation of fire alarm wiring and tlie instalof file alarm wiring and the departments charges therefor. ihe report states that very littte headway in the matter of tlie reduction utf charges had been made and alleges that this is entirely due to the lack of knowledge of the departmental heads. The report points out. that lire brigades receive from the Consolidated Fund £2300 and tlie brigades pay the Postal Department £IBB9 line rental and £1204 for telephones and motor registration, making £3093, or £793 more than that/ received. The agitation for lower charges for fire alarm circuits lias been growing since 1928'. 'I he department claims

that it cannot reduce the charges as its business is conducted oil commercial lines hut tlie report’s rejoinder to this is “Suppose brigades carry' out toe work of fire fighting on the same basis, and the P. and T. Department does not pay for services rendered, then we as brigadesmen, may not give the department preferential treatment when its buildings are endangered.” Tlie report stated that the brigades were hampered hv exorbitant departmental charges. The conference authorised the executive to continue negotiations.