FIRE BRIGADE ENTERTAINS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4460, 3 June 1930, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADE ENTERTAINS.

PLEASANT SOCIAL FUNCTION. At the 'conclusion of the demonstration in connection with the installation. of the new electrically operated fire siren last Friday evening l the Pox ton Fire Brigade entertained members of the Board and visitors present to a social evening in Walls’ rooms. Ihe function was presided over by Mr. A. 11. Olerke (Board Chairman). “THE BRIGADE. The first toast honoured was that of the Foxton Fire Brigade. In » proposing the toast Mr. Gray (Wellington member of the Board) said that- (knowing the local Brigade as he did, he could not do justice to the toast. No volunteer brigade could in his opinion touch the Foxton Brigade and in Mr. H. Reid they had an excellent superintendent, a man who in his younger days had led his men on the foot ball field and who now still led them in their duties as firemen. He was a leader they were justly ' proud of. The brigade itself was very efficient and dealt with calls expeditiously and with credit to themselves. Superintendent H. Reid in response, said that the brigade had always been well backed up by a sympathetic Board. The installation they bad seen in operation that

night had been the culmination of a lot of striving on part of both the Board and the brigade, and he sincerely thanked the Board for its liberal treatment of the brigade at all times. It bad never turned down a request, but he desired to say that although the brigade bad many requests from time to time they all realised the Board’s financial position and endeavoured to keep the expenditure down to a minimum. They were well treated by the Board socially and as fire fighters jind he hoped that the new fire "siren would assist the brigade' to turn out a good deal smarter to fires. “THE BOARD.” The toast of the Foxton Fire Board was proposed by Mr. W. E. Bullard and the responses , were made by Messrs John Ross and R. Bryant. In the course of his remarks Mr. Bryant said that Foxton had gone ahead a great deal with regard to fire fightiiig during the last few years. Up till a few years ago, Palmerston North, with a much larger population than Foxton now had, had not the fire fighting conveniences that Foxton possessed today. Foxton was not as far behind the times as some people would like to make out. With such jexcellient service as, Foxtou had to-day he thought that the insurance companies should reduce the premiums. Rates also were high and had been increased. With regard to fires, he thought that insurance companies were a lot to blame fir this connection. They operated under a bad system. The}’ appointed agents in almost every town who knew practically nothing about the business. If asked to accept a risk they inspected it if conscientious, if not, they merely signed the person up. One office would take a risk that another declined. In his opinion the insurance companies should alter their present system of insurance and not accept any risk that had not been examined by a competent man. In this manner he thought that fire risk would he greatly reduced.

“THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.” Air. J. K. Hornblow proposed the toast of the Foxton Borough Council and in doing so paid a fine tribute to that body. Although subjected to adverse criticism at times, the Foxton Borough Council, he said, carried out its administration of the Borough in a very creditable manner indeed. .They had but a limited amount of money to spend and could not do impossibilities. Foxton possessed conveniences second to none in any town of its size in the Dominion and apart from this was one of the finest- little places in the country, and on top of this the Council had been able to reduce the rates this year.. With regard to fire fighting, Foxton had made wonderful strides during the past few years, due to a great extent to the Foxton Borough Council, which body had placed no obstacle in the way of advancement in this direction. The water supply locally was exceptionally good while the electrical service, was most successful. In this connection he considered the iiorowhenua Power Board the most enterprising Board in the Dominion. An excellent water and drainage system was another thing they had to thank the Council for. The Council Chamber's were an ornament to the town and the people were catered for in the entertainment line very satisfactorily in the Municipal pictures. To cap all the town possessed a most enthusiastic Mayor and Councillors. The Mayor (Mr. M. E. Perreau) in response thanked, the proposer for his remarks. He mentionecT that he had been opposed t-o the installation of the new fire siren. He had realised the efficiency of the brigade would be improved by the installation, but when he first stood for the -Council he had said that his aims would -be economy with efficiency and he had -attempted to economise as much as possible as there had been a good deal of expenditure necessary on the part of the Board. He endorsed Mr. Bryant’s remarks in regard to. a reduction in fire insurance premiums. The Council had taken the matter up with the Underwriters, and he hoped that the Clerk would have something to repoi-t in 'this connection at an early date. The Council was proud of the brigade and appreciated its services and he was in a position to say that they

had never had a superintendent who had asked for so little as Superintendent Reid.

'Superintendent Reid: T c-an soon alier tlial. (Laughter). Or. S. iCowley endorsed Ihe Mayor’s remarks and said that it was very pleasing to hear someone make eulogistic reference to the Borough Council. A person in public life usually got more kicks than praise.

ICr. F. Robinson also spoke and said lhai 1 lie Councillors were there to do what they could for the ratepayers atid till did their bast in that connection.

“THE POWIER BOARD.” Air. Perreau proposed the Inast of Ihe Horowhenua Power Board. The Board, he said, was the most progressive in New Zealand with a fine chairman in Mr. Monk, a very good inspector in Mr. Jack and a perfect engiiteer in Mr. Smith. The work of the Board was carried out in a most businesslike manner. The Board had only recently reduced its charges by 25 per cent., which concession was much appreciated in Foxton. They bad also taken up the mailer of community lighting locally and were going to carry this out at n very low figure. As ii result of the Board's operat ions the Council derived considerable benefit in regard to its waterworks and swimming baths. The Council had always been treated very well by rbe Board in any business dealings. Mr. W. E. Barber (Board member) in thanking the speaker for his remarks said that in Air. Monk, the Board had a very capable chairman. They had also been fortunate in other ways. Their first engineer (Air. Overton) had proved a very efficient official and in Mr. Smith, his predecessor, they were also well served. The Board operated without friction or faults and lie was proud to be a member of such a body. Ah\ D. R. Barron also paid a tribute to the efficiency of the Power Board staff instancing a case where a fire occurred about 2 a.m. in Foxton which resulted in a pole being destroyed and overhead wires broken. Before 7 a.m. the damage had been repaired, which, he said, spoke volumes for the efficiency of the Horowhenua Power Board staff. Air. Smith returned thanks for the remarks of Ihe various speakers. The Board, he said, had a fine staff who gave of their best. The district was a big one extending from Paeknkariki to Tokomaru and in times of storm they were, often kept very busy repairing damage to lines, etc. On one occasion he had known of a storm followed by a gale and topped off with a flood. Ilis men on that occasion had to cross the Alanawalu River in a boa! to gel In Foxlon. They had ns their local representative, Mr 11. Reid, a very efficient and capable official who saved them n lot of running l about. AD 1 Smith said Ihe efficiency of his department was due to the men under him. The Board had had a good year and been able to reduce its charges and lie hoped that they would be able lo go on reducing the rates.

Air. AY. Jack said that in AD 1 . Smith, the Board hqd a chief the staff was only too pleased to go out of their way to please at any hour of the day or night. The inspection staff had a big responsibility and was out to protect the consumers’ property as well as the Board’s. All installations had to be passed in order to see that there was no danger. Fuses were installed inside as well as outside and insinuations had to be in a very bad 111 ate before a fire could occur. All employees were licensed wiremen and under Government supervision. The contractors operating in (lie Board’s district were efficient and nil carried out good work.

Air. R. Bryant (Board member) also paid a tribute to the efficiency of the staff and officials. The reduction made iu the ehai’ges this year was the finest tribute to the efficiency of the Board.

Mr. W. Afoddings (Line Foreman) and for three years member of the Wellington Central Brigade, referred to the installation fried out that night. As a fireman he could say that it would prove very useful. The first few minutes of a fire, were the most dangerous. Ilf the firemen could get away a few minutes earlier there was a very good chance of effecting a good save. Two or three minutes lost at the beginning of a fire often meant the loss of (lie building. He appreciated the remarks made about flic efficiency of the staff. He was in charge of the overhead lines and he and his staff endeavoured to give thorough and efficient service as they realised fliat in continuity of service lay the success of the Board. In their chief (Mr. Smith) they had a fine and efficient engineer who was Ini|. 10 give his best to the staff and Board.

“THE CONTRACTOR.” Mr. .1. K. Hornblow proposed the toast of “the contractor." The Fire Board, he said, bad been particularly pleased with the work of the contractor in connection with the newly installed siren. Mr. “S. Bevan bad given entire satisfaction to (he .Board and to the Power Board, Inspector and Engineer. His work reflected nothing -but. eredif on him. Mr. Perreau endorsed Mr. Hornblow’s remarks and said Mr. Bevan’s work called for special mention. Mr. Bevan thanked the speakers for- their remarks and said he and bis staff had done their best and were pelased with the installation, which met with the approval of the Board and Inspector. “THE MAN AAV ATT! COUNTY ' COUNCIL.” The toast of “the Manawatu County Council” was proposed by ’Mr. S. H. Poole, who referred to the

good work carried out by this lo cal Imdv.

In reply, Air. W. E. Barber (chairman) said that anything the Council could do lo assist Fnxlon it was only too pleased to undertake. In n very short while he hoped to see the road between i'-.xlon and Palmerston North tar sealed. A tender bad already been accepted for the first five miles of this highway and the road between Palmerston North and Rangiotn was well forward. Willi the two ends completed he did not anticipate any great difficulty in obtaining t-lie necessary financial assistance to III! the gap. Willi regard to the local port, he was very anxious to see an increase in ihe local trade as the Council possessed a tram which served a. large area in conjunction with the port. The Council had had to meet a lot of diCtiicnllies and put up with a lot of criticism but it was doing its best for the district as a whole (applause).

“THE VISITORS” AND OTHERS. 'The tons! of “the visitors" was proposed by Air. A. If. Cleike and responded to by.the Superintendent of the Levin Brigade. Other toasts honoured were "The Chairman,” proposed by Air. Gray and responded to by Mr. Clerke; "The Harbour Board," Air. .1. Ross, reply .Messrs Rangilieuen and W. E. Barber; “The Waterworks Foreman,” Air. (Clerke, reply AD 1 . W. Neville; “The Press,” AD'. Perreau, response Air. R. 0. Hornblow: “The Hostess (Airs. Walls”), Air. Gray, response Mrs. Walls.