FIRE BRIGADES.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1916, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADES.

TARANAKI CONFERENCE. (From Our Stratford Correspondent). The annual conference of delegates of the United Fire Brigades .Association, Taranaki district, was held at Stratford on Friday night. Present: President W. H. Griffiths (in the chair), Superintendent H. A, Nuttall (Eltham), vice-presi-dent; Lieut. A. Boon (Xew Plymouth), vice-president); Captain T. G. Grubb (Patea), Deputy-Superintendent Champion (secretary), Lieut. McLaggan (Inglewood), Fireman Spurdle (Waitara), Foreman E. A. Drake (Stratford), Superintendent Ward (Kaponga), Lieut. Aroa (Fitzroy) /and Secretary C. Kelly (Stratford). The annual report stated that 39 members of Taranaki brigades were serving at the front, and five had fallen. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £ls 12s 6d. The president, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, congratulated delegates on the healthy financial position of the Association. Superintendent Nuttall congratulated the delegates on the condition of the finances. His brigade felt it could hardly support a demonstration when such a large number of their brother firemen were fighting their battles at the front. His brigade had sent eleven men, two giving their lives for their Empire. He felt that the conference to be held at Westport this montli should not be held, and he was certain, if the brigades had been consulted, they would have voted for a postponement.. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. A REQUEST REFUSED. The secretary of the Gonville Brigade wrote asking permission to join the Association. The letter went on to say that the Association might think it strange that they should want to join the Association, but they were at variance witli the Wanganui Brigade, and that they had made things so "hot" their brigade had decided to pull out of the Bush Districts Association. They were only a small suburban brigade, willing and good sports, with none of the win, tie or wrangle business about them, but they desired to meet others of like nature and exchange ideas, measure strides and make friendships. Superintendent Nuttall moved that the conference regretted it could not allow the ponville Brigade to join the Association. —Lieut. Boon (New Plymouth) seconded. Superintendent Nuttall said his brigade could not understand why Gonville wanted to come into the Association, seeing that they had an association in Wanganui. There was nothing to prevent Gonville and other brigades being invited to take part in demonstrations.

Captain Grubb (Patea) said he saw no reason why they should debar Gonville because they were outside of Taranaki. He thought it would be a good idea to get aa many brigades as possible into the association. They might extend their boundaries and call it a *Vest Coast Fire Brigades Association, then they could take in Aramoho, Eastown and Gonville.

The motion was carried by five votes to four.

Captain Grubb moved, on behalf of Patea, that the Hawke's Bay Association be written to, and ascertain if there was any reason why this Association should not admit Gonville to membership, and report to the incoming executive. — It was decided to do this.-

FALLEN COMRADES. The president moved tliat a vote of sympathy be passed to 'those parents who had lost firemen at the front. The motion was carried in silence, the delegates standing. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as fellows:—President, Superintendent H. A. Nuttall (Bltham); vice-presidents, vice-presidents, Lieut. A. Boon (Xew Plymouth) and Lieut. Aroa (Fitzroy); secretary and treasurer, Deputy-Super-intendent J. Champion (Hawera); auditors, Superintendent Ward (Kaponga) and Secretary Kelly (Hawera). GENERAL. It was decided that the next demonstration be held in Stratford. The Patea Brigade invited the delegates to hold the next conference in that town. It was resolved that in the event of no demonstration being held next year, the conference be held at Patea. EXECUTIVE'S REPORT.

The executive's report was as follows: Since last year's conference at Kaponga, ir. the great war the nation is waging in the international struggle for freedom, many of our brave comrades have fought, bled and died, and have commendation at least equal to any other section of the brave lads of the Empire, who have patriotically responded to the call for King and country. Thirty-nine members of our brigades have gone to the front with the various reinforcements, and the names of several brave men are inscribed on the roll of honor as having given up their lives and the best of their health and strength. To those who have been bereaved we offer our sincere and deepest sympathy; at the same time feeling proud of the honor our brave boy s have conferred on the fine service of the Dominion, and we trust that those who have been wounded and sick, and are being so kindly nursed and so nobly treated in the dear Old Land, will soon be restored to health and strength, so as to be able to return to their Brigades and their beloved ones at home. Owing to some of the brigades having notified the secretary of the Association that they thought the demonstration ought to be held over during the war, the secretary conferred with the executive, and it was decided to take a vote of the brigades on the matter, with the result that seven brigades voted against the demonstration, and two in favor, and one did not vote. The members of the Stratford brigade have asked to have the first lefusal for the next demonstration. In accordance with the resolution passed at the last conference, the treasurer has opened an account in the Bank of Australasia, Hawera. Last September, the members of the Gonville Fire Brigade (Wanganui), made an application to be affiliated to the Association. Owing to ithe brigade being out of Taranaki district, the secretary thought it advisable to lay the application before the brigades. The conference would be asked to decide the request of the Gonville Brigade. The balance-sheet shows the finances of the Association to be in a healthy condition. There arc no liabilities to meet, there being an amount of £ls 12s Cd to our credit at the bank. We desire to ex;tend to the officers and members of the various brigades our heartiest thanks for their kindly help given to the secretary and treasurer during the past year. We trust that lilie new year upon which we have entered will bring peace, prosperity, and goodwill to all men, "" ,