SOCIAL ROOM FOR FIREMEN

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26186, 9 August 1950, Page 6

SOCIAL ROOM FOR FIREMEN

UNION’S REQUEST USE OF BOARD ROOM SUGGESTED

“This is the all-time high, and cuse my saying so, I mean dinkum,” said Mr T. M. Chartmi (chairman), when the Christchurch Fire Board last evening received « letter .from the Fire Brigade Em* ployees’ Union suggesting that th! ooard should vacate its board room and convert the room into a aom.i room for single firemen. “The writer of the letter should ho in the diplomatic corps,” added mJ Charters, when the letter written from his office in Dunedin as see™, tary of the union by Mr W. C. McDon nell, was read. He said the single rner at the Christchurch station were dis satisfied with conditions in the mess' room. Nothing had been done to im. prove conditions. The union suggested that the messroom be enlarged bv taking down a wall and that the board meeting room be converted into a sib ting room for the staff and furnished with suitable chairs and small tables “It is with some diffidence that w» suggest the taking of the board room but we> cannot find an alternativs room,” the secretary wrote. “No doubt the board could make arrangements for the use of another place for its meetings. The matter is of grave importance and merits urgent considers“I don’t suppose there is any harm in asking that the board be dispossessed of its board room,” remarked the chairman, ironically. "Summer is coming; let us have outdoor meetings,” suggested Mr W S Mac Gibbon. Mr F. O. Clissold said that Mr Me. Donnell must have had his tongue in his cheek when he wrote the letter There was no room in the station for a staff room, said Mr Charters Mr W. P. Glue: What about the recreation room upstairs? “They are not crowded in their recreation room.” replied Superintend, ent A. Morrison. r “Why do they want this room’” ask. ed Mr Glue. “To meet their lady friends and plav cards,” replied Superintendent Morri--son. Brigadesmen had a room in everv other station, Mr Charters said -It leaves us in the cart,” said Mr Glue. Where are we to go to’ To the secretary’s office?” Mr J E. Tait: What about the City C ?H. nc .Q’ J am not Particularly taken with this board room. It would not worry me to go anywhere else I w^Vld^ e ha PPy it would fit in.” Mr Glue said the board room at the station was "a bit out of the way" except for brigade inspections. sTA I ? ust say 1 am surprised at the attitude of the board,” said Mr Charters. “I want to give the men reasonable amenities; but when they ask ‘for the board’s room, that is somethin* we should not stand.” u On, the motion of Mr Tait, seconded by Mr--Glue, the board referred the letter to the executive and asked it to report on the possibilities of the use of other rooms.