"RATHER SHABBY."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 43, 20 February 1935, Page 11

"RATHER SHABBY."

FIREMEN WORKED OVERTIME. ECHO OF DUKE'S TOUR. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) OHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday'. Criticism of the Government for asking that firemen should work extra time without pay during the Duke of Gloucester's tour of New Zealand was voiced this morning by~ Superintendent Warner, of Christchurch, when speaking at the annual conference of the Fire Engineers' Institute. "It was rather slutbby," said Mr. Warner. "The Governinent said it did not have mil ph. money for tour expenses, yet it paid for a couple of dozen hangerson to travel through New Zealand with the Duke. The poor firemen, however, were not paid,," • "I cannot understand why in a civilised country like New Zealand a fireman should be put on duty to walk up and down —unpaid, mind you—outside the Duke's room wherever he stayed, seeing that it did tit catch fire—it was ridiculous," added Mr. Warner, "The Duke must cause fire danger wherever ho goes, but it wq,s absolutely unnecessary to call out firemen, as was done, without paying them, when other paid officials were quite capable of looking out for fire." ;|