UNITED FIRE BRIGADES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 215, 11 March 1914, Page 2

UNITED FIRE BRIGADES.

UtXKKUKXCK AT AKAKOA. By Telegraph—Press Avtoriation. Akaroa, Tuesda. 'l'lii' thirty-fifth annual im i-i.h;,' of (he i'nited Kire Brigades t:ition ,vus opened yesterday at Akaroa. Practically every lire brigade in New Zealand was represented. Nuperiiileiideni, (I. Kpriggins. (if Wanganui, presided. The annual report stated that matters with the Association were in a very satisfactory condition. The amount of assets over liabilities was .•C530 (is lid. as against £lll3 KM (id for llie precious year, being a decrease of 1 (IT -Is. !That was account■'.! for by the non-ino.lusion of the Government | grant for Kil l of ,OH>, wliieh came to hand too Jate to be included in the | balance-sheet. The actual assets really ! amounted to £83(1 (Is Oil. The number j of brigades affiliated with the Association was 127, being an increase of three I from last year. Arch Hill and Parnell brigades were absorbed by the Auckland City Brigade, during the year, and, the following brigades had become affiliated:—Denniston, I'rankton .Junction, I'ukekohe, Rcinuera and Te Awainutu. Since then, Leeston, Mangaweka and Whiikatane brigades hail joined, making the present total 130. Tn the course ot the year four calls had been for financial assistance on behalf of comrades in distress, and the total amount subscribed to date was £176 lfls, fur which members were heartily thanked. DiirI inir the past year the Association, had I suffered loss by the death of one of their most esteemed past presidents, viz., I the late Mr. J. Hughes, of Auckland. [ The accident assurance branch of the Association was in a satisfactory condition. The revenue amounted to ti>33 13s sd, and the expenditure, which included a. death claim, to £137, thus leaving a profit for the year of £0(1 13s sd. The total fund now to the credit of the accident fund was £IMO Bs. The balance-sheet showed receipts for the year £2003 Ifla 9d, and expenditure £1525 16s 6d, leaving a credit balance of £568 2s 3d. Assets were valued at £730 Is 0d and liabilities £2OO Is, , leaving a balance of £538 6s Od. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The conference discussed the following notice of motion proposed by the Napier Pirgo Brigade: "That in the event of Territorial duty falling on briade muster, and brigade members having to attend, the)' be marked as present on the brigade roll." It was decided to defer the matter until a depution had Been the Hon. F. IT. Bell. Minister of Internal Affairs, who is arriving on Wednesday. The motion of the Devonport Brigade that it be made compulsory for every intending member of a brigade to be medically examined was lost. It was decided to abolish the system of compulsory levies for benevolent purposes, in favor of the voluntary system. ! The motion by the Dunedin City Brigade, that all U.F.B.A. honors be standardised, was carried. A number of matters relating to competition conditions were discussed, but the majority of the changes proposed were defeated. It was decided that drop-in shutter discs be used at all future demonstrations. It was decided to award a gold star to h ireman Morrison, of flisborne, who, in the opinion of the special service committee set up to consider (he case, had his name improperly removed from the brigade roll between 188S and lflnn., It was decided that manual events shall not count for the high-pressure shield. The next conference and demonstration were fixed for Timaru.