FIRE PREVENTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 59, 5 March 1912, Page 6

FIRE PREVENTION.

UNITED FIRE BRIGADES ASSO CIATION. MEETING AT ROTORUA. (Per Press Association.) Rotorua, March 4. The thirty-third annual conference of the United Fire Brigades Association is being held here. Yesterday a church parade was held. Business commenced this morning, Mr Boyes, president, occupying the chair. There were 114 delegates present The president, in his opening address, paid a tribute to the past president. The fact that nothing worthy of note in lire lighting had arise) during the year .showed that they were getting .into touch with then work as firemen. He could not help feeling that they owed a debt of gratitude for the assistance afforded t-' lire brigades. So long as they stood shoulder high as volunteers for the protection of life and property, they would afford an object lesson to thchihonr unions in not seeking a. selfish object, but the welfare of their follows. Twenty-one gold stars were earned last year. A sad feature about the cgnforcnco was tho absence of M; J. G. Gilbord, tho grand builder of the association, and he much regretted that illness prevented his attending. Assets over liabilities had increased from £7BO i!2s 8d to £BO9 8s lid. The item on the balance-sheet, “brigade subscriptions in arrears,” should not exist. Tho amount now was • Rouble that of the last year. The following had become affiliated with the associated:—Cromwell, Taumarnnui, and Invercargill Railway. Tho Hawera lire police had disbanded. There were 117 brigade? now on the roll. The accident

insurance branch was in a satisfactory condition! being in credit to the extent of ' £1723. The balance-sheet ■showed a balance of £750 8s 3d. The Conference carried a remit from litvoroargill that the association take steps to secure exemption from compulsory military training of all firemen whether permanent or volunteer. The number of brigades affiliated was now 117.

The following had gained medals for 25 years’ service:—Fireman Cronn (Marten), Captain Wallis (Gore), Secretary Martin (Gore), Captain Pearsou (Dunedin), Captain Addison (Thames), Foreman Kenny (Thames) Foreman Fraser (Gisborne), Captain Bransch (Hastings), Secretary White (Napier), Secretary Higgins (Kaiapoi), Foreman Ross (Hokitika), cx-Superin-tendent Thompson (Hokitika), Branchman Carter (Sunnier), Captain Jaodaird (Nelson), Superintendent Winn (Lawrence), Ryan (Greymouth).

The accident assurance branch was satisfactory. The revenue was £273 12s 7d and the expenditure £212 2s leaving a credit balance of £6l 10s 7d. Telegrams of sympathy, in his illness were forwarded to ex.-Presidcnt J. G. Gilbcrd (Napier) and Superintendent Mitohel 1 (Dunedin). A deputation of citizens waited on the conference, and the resident officer (Mr. W. Hill) formally welcomed the delegates to Rotorua,. Captain Hugo in his address to the conference, said the Macky, Logan fire at Auckland had brought up the loss by fire risk to the average of the previous five or six years. The question of expansion of lire as affecting the safety of buildings should he seriously discussed. Ho emphatically denied the statement made in the “Australian Firemen” that the effect of State Insurance had been an increase in fire waste. The provision in the Act requiring one-third of the rate-payers to vote on a proposal for the constitution of a lire district required amendment. He approved of the suggestion that school drill should be carried out, hut a general scheme should bo adopted. The danger of all glass verandahs was emphasised. Captain Hugo dwelt on the necessity for the standardisation of appliances. Brigades should strive after efficiency attained by Continental brigades, where practical examinations were enforced.