"WORK, OR RESIGN."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 289, 6 December 1928, Page 9

"WORK, OR RESIGN."

WAIHI FIRE BRIGADESMEN.

BOARD STANDS BY DECISION.

APPOINTMENT OF OFFICER

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WAIHI, this day.

The whole of the circumstances of the dispute between eleven members of the Waihi Fire Brigade and the Waihi Fire Board, relative to the appointment by the board of Mr. S. Shergold as deputysuperintendent, were discussed at length at the quarterly meeting of the board last evening. Mr. E. Morgan presided, and Messrs. VV. Skegg and Tregear (Auckland members) and W. Ellerington (Government representative) were present in addition to local members. Tho dissenting firemen also attended. A statement was put in showing that Mr. Shergold had attended 22 night fires since 1925 and that he had applied for honours. At the end of the discussion and after the dissenting firemen had withdrawn, the following resolution was carried:— "That the board stands by its decision, and if the dissenting firemen are not prepared to work under Mr. Shergold they be asked to hand in their uniforms and the board's property, and that telephone connections, where made, be cut off." The origin of the dispute was the fact that the brigade submitted two names, Messrs. Stamp and Shergold, to the board, and said that a ballot taken by members resulted in favour of Mr. Stamp, but beca\jse Mr. Stamp had resigned the position of superintendent on account of a change in his occupation the board considered that for the same reason he could not carry out the duties of deputy, and it appointed Mr. Shergold.