FIRE BRIGADES' ASSOCIATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 93, 19 April 1912, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADES' ASSOCIATION.

FORMATION OF PROVINCIAL BODY FOR TARANAKI.

A meeting of delegates from the various fire brigades in tiie Taranaki district took place last evening at the Fire Brigade Station, Stratford. The meeting will be a memorable one in the annals of the fire brigades of Taranaki, as it resulted in the ostabliohment of a Fire Brigades’ Association for tiie district. The Association will be run on similar lines to the Auckland and other associations, and will hold biennial demonstrations.

The delegates at the meeting were Superintendent F. J. Bellringer, New Plymouth.; Lieut. Bird, Waitara ; Captain Griffiths, Fitzroy; Lieut. Rowson. Stratford; Foreman Willis, Patea; Superintendent Nuttall, Elt-ham; Captain H. Taylor, Manaia; Foreman Champion, Hawera; and Captain R-ol-Iston, Inglewood. The visitors were; Branchman Boon, Stratford; and T. A. Smith, and Rogers, of Hawera. Superintendent F. J. Bellringer was voted to the chair, and Captain Taylor was appointed minute secretary. An apology was tendered for the absence of Captain Grubb. Superintendent Bellringer opened the proceedings by briefly. stating the objects of the meeting, .which were to form a Fire Brigades’ Association, for the purpose of holding competitions, which raise the standard of efficiency of those brigades taking part in them, and that it now rested with the delegates to decide on these matters.

Lieut. Rowson, on behalf . of the Stratford Brigade, cxl:ended a hearty welcome to the delegates. Captain Taylor formal]?' moved, that tiie Taranaki Fire Brigades form an association. The meeting carried it unanimously. Qualifications for membership and rules and regulations for the Association were then considered, and it was agreed that members of the fire brigades of the district he members of tiie Association.

The annual meeting, to bo hold in the Ist week in December, two months’ notice of which was to lie given. The subscription of each brigade was fixed at £l. Any brigade owing two years’ subscription forfeits its membership, and the delegate of a brigade-one year in arrears has, no vote at the, annual meeting. Captain Nut(qil, brought up the fnattqr ,of the demonstration, and gave cogent reasons,, pthat it should be hekßhkmuiallj’. ; , meeting agreed To this, and (dpcpdjed that the first dem operation shoukLbe held early in December next, the rules of the competition to he those of the U.F.B.A.

The question of the kind of boots to be, worn , by competitors, caused some exercise of ingenuity of the delegates, it being finally decided that no ilomeos, or , elastic-side, boots- be allowed, and th’a,t( spikes hhd -bars be prohibited, each .brigade is; to be allowed to cmnjm.ue with, ; one 5-men team, two 3-mcu teams,.,'-two 2-men teams, and two 1-man teams. The election.of officers of the Association resulted in the appointment of Superintendent F. J. Bellringer as president; vice-presidents, Captain Grubb and Holstou; secretary . and treasurer, Foreman Champion. The President, who was elected by acclamation, in thanking the delegates, said that lie would do everything in his power to further the objects of the Association, the chief of which was the increased efficiency of the firemen as demanded by present day requirements. Captain Taylor and Superintendent Xutiall were appointed auditors. It was decided that invitations from brigades to bold the first biennial demonstration in their respective towns should lie in the hands of the executive of the Association by Tuesday, 23th May. The programme adopted is the same as that of the demonstration held at Dannevirko.

Tiie meeting concluded with tiie usual vote of thanks being tendered.