FIRE BRIGADES' ASSOCIATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 253, 4 March 1911, Page 5

FIRE BRIGADES' ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Hokitika, Last Night. The thirty-second annual meeting of the United Fire Brigades Association opened this morning, Mr. J. G. Gilbert, of Napier, presiding over one hundred delegates. The Mayor welcomed the delegates on behalf of the citizens. Reviewing the growth of the Association, from the second demonstration in 1880, with only. Ave brigades present, to to-day's, with over eighty brigades taking part in the demonstration and 104 brigades at the conference. The speaker paid a tribute to the excellent work done by the various fire hoards.

The Greymouth remit, that the secretary's term of office be three years, was carried. Onehunga's remit, that members of the executive must be bona fide members of a brigade, was withdrawn. The PaHatua lvmit, that a levy be made on each brigade for the purpose of keeping disabled firemen, their wives and families. Wll3 referred to a committee for report. A committee was set up to report on an! consider what amendments should be made under the Fire Brigades Act so as better to fill the requirements cf th« fire brigade service of the Dominion: also a committee on the advisability of providing a standard itinerary libr&ry on scientific methods of fire-fighting: also io draft recommendations to lhi> proper authorities with a view of minimising risk of life at fires, owing to faulty building by-laws. A committee was appointed to interview the superintendent of the Christchurch Brigade in an endeavor to persuade him to reconsider his decision, and re-join the Association.

Invitations for the next conference were received from Picton, PalmcTston North and Rotorua, and were referred to the various brigades for decision. The election of officers resulted:— Secretary A. Boycs (Nelson), president; Messrs. Leaver (Westport) and Salmon (Dunedin), vice-presidents; Mr. Watts (Newmarket), secretary; Mr. Spriggins (Wanganui), treasurer. After the conference closed the delegates were entertained at dinner by the citizens, with the mayor of Hokitika in the chah*. During the function, the mayor presented Past President Gilberd with a handsomely-bound autograph album of the various firemen of the Dominion, referring to Mr. Gilberd's 33 years' service, during 24 of which he had acted as secretary.