FIRE FIGHTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 120, 24 May 1938, Page 5

FIRE FIGHTERS.

CONTRAST SEEM EAGER FOR SERVICE. CHRISTCHURCH REPORT. IN CASES OF EMERGENCY. The spirit of service in the men who fight Auckland's fires is not a thing that lias to be brought into action in times af emergency by the special provisions if an award. Rather than miss a fire they will willingly sacrifice, without material recompense, parts of their periodical leave anc even of their annual holidays. These characteristics of the men of the lire fighting service were revealed to-day when inquiries were made as a result of a Press Association message published throughout New Zealand this morning. Originating in Christcliurch, the message said that according to the chairman uf the Fire Board in that citv, Mr. T. M. Charters, probably about half a dozen extra men could have been called out for the big fire in Mac Duffs Building and the State Theatre vasterday had it not 1 eon for the provisions of the present award for firemen. Under the award, t-aid Mr. Charters, men who were on day leave could not be called o.it in an emergency e\en if they were at the station at the time. Yesterday's fire had l>een an emergency. Mr. Charters added, but they could not call out men who were at the station but whose day's leave had not expired. There was no provision lor calling out men on leave, even by paying them overtime. The men were sinmly not available in of emergency. I7ad they been available, the married men on leave, and probably some of the others, would have returned to the station yesterday. "It's Their Job." Because he wa s not fullv conversant with Christ'-hurch eondition*. the superintendent of the Auckland brigade. Mr. W. L. Wilson. <li<l not wish to comment directly on Mr. Charters" reported st; Moments or to draw comparisons. TTis explanation of the 10-al position, nevertheless. indicated that what repnt "lly happened in Christ church yesterday has never happened here. Auckland fir;-men have an award, too. and there is similar provision for a ''ay off every fourth day. Ever -inre that arrangement came into bein-r. however, a gentleman's agreement lia~ existed side by side with it. "The effect of this agreement." said Mr. Wilson, "is that men who are on day leave will turn out to a fire wher.-ver their services are required. Th \v don't have to be told. "Let us suppose it is n : ght time. Fifteen men may be on day lea\e. and a number of those will probably be ripping in their quarters in the station building. A call comes in. an.l every man in the station will come down ready for duty. The men who are actually set (down for duty will man the machines I that are sent out. I "The others will stand by until the I 'stop call' is received, telling whether it is a false alarm or whether the fire is I under control, or whether more help is needed. Often the day leave men will not have to leave the station, but if the fire is unusually large their services may be needed, and in that case they will give them willingly."

Example in Recent Fire. Seven men who were on day le.ive stood by on the nislit of tli« hip fire :\vo Sundays ago. added Mr. Wilson. One man who was spending his annual holiday at Long Bay saw the glow of flames in the sky and rushed to the city in rase his services were needed. This was one of the comparatively rar? when men on leave were require! at the actual scene of the fire, although in this case some of them were sent home again. Even a married man who lived away from the station, and was on day leave, would report for duty if he knew there was a fire. It was not in a fireman's nature to miss a fire if he could help itHe was depended upon to turn out. "This must be the spirit in a civil and social service such as fire-fighting." Mr. ilson said. "After all. fire is an interna] enemy, and it must be fought like any other enemy. What is going to happen in any war if part of an m:iv fights and the rest of it decides not to?" At the present time. Mr. Wilson men tioned, a larne numler of men lived away from the central station. In the new building to be erected shoit'v. however. there would be 32 sets of married men's quarters, and. in fact, the main reason why board was provided was to enable the men to be more readv to turn out.