30. Officers of this department attended a 10-week course on lectures in evidence, summonses, Summary Court procedure and framing of charges given by a Police Officer at Central Fire Station. At the conclusion of the course, an examination in these subjects was conducted and the result proved extremely satis- factory.
31. The two Elementary English Classes for firemen, which commenced at the end of September, 1954, were satisfactorily concluded for the first term and 30 of the students who passed the annual examination were promoted to Class Year II.
32. The two Elementary English Classes-one Year I and one Year 11-were resumed on 19th September, 1955 and 20th September, 1955 respectively at Central Fire Station. Each class consisted of 30 students who showed much enthusiasm in making an attempt to improve their knowledge of English with the hope of getting better chances for promotion in the future.
WELFARE
33. The Fire Brigade Welfare Fund, the receipts of which are principally derived from charges for services rendered to the public in the form of duties performed at theatres etc., had a most successful year. Disbursements amounted to $2,078.60 for various purposes connected with the welfare of the members of the Brigade, and the excess of income over expenditure was $11,298.40. $4,512.48 was brought forward from the previous year and the total sum deposited in Treasury as at 31st March, 1956 was therefore $15,810.88. Statement of receipts and payments covering the transactions of the fund for the period 1st April, 1955 to 31st March, 1956 and balance sheet as at 31st March, 1956 as audited by the Director of Audit are shown in Appendix IV.
34. A Station Officer was appointed departmental welfare officer. His duties consist of giving constant attention to the welfare activities of this Department.
11