A FIRE-FIGHTER

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18674, 24 April 1926, Page 16

A FIRE-FIGHTER

AND A PLAIN TALKER. THE WELLINGTON SERVICE. (SPECIAL TO "tHI PRESS ") WELLINGTON, April 23. Mr J. Creeke, the new superintendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade, has a direct way with him, and he apparently believes in getting in early with hi.s criticisms. He rather staggered City Councillors last evening at a social gathering of brigadesmen, when he stated that the brigade vas out of date, and the conditions o[ employment unsatisfactory.

He said he had already got some encouragement in that in addition lo two short leaves during the week, he had l>eeii successful in obtaining •_'! hours' leave for the men each week. Tln'.t meant that the men now had three distinct breaks off duty.

Superintendent Creeke said he was sure he would be able to give the city a service second to none in the British colonies, and put the brigade in a fighting order to meet all emergencies. "At present our appliances are of a very low standard and barring the two hit ladders, are really lit for the scrap heap," lie said. ' '"One engine at Petone. which I saw recently, is equal to our present equipment. Our brigade can be raised to the standard of efficiency. however, which will give citizens a fair return for their money.''

The superintendent said lie would have to reorganise the service in the matter of appliances, and in the improvement of conditions for his men. He had 40 men. of whom he had found that 32 were only apprentices. Men in the past had been leaving owing to the conditions. The profession would have to be made more attractive to the right class of man. It was not every class of man that would make a good fireman. In Australia, owing to the conditions being made attractive, the service of the men had been prolonged greatly. The longest service man in the Wellington Brigade to-day had put in sixteen years, and then there was a drop in the list to six yearg, while 32 of the men had tyily three vears of training. It had taken him six years to become n first-class fireman in Australia. and twelve years to qualify as an officer.