FIREMEN’S BEDS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29871, 11 July 1962, Page 12

FIREMEN’S BEDS

Issue Still Disputed

The attitude of the Christchurch Fire Brigadesmen’s Union on the provision of beds for single men at the new central station in Kilmore street was unchanged, and the matter was still in dispute, the president of the union (Mr G. G. Walker) said in a letter received by the Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Board last evening “In other words, the property is not declared black, but they want more beds?” said Mr W E. Olds Mr L. R. Osmond, the Chief Fire Officer, said men .were now working at the new station, but they were still asking for individual beds. The union had been advised that the board considered it reasonable for plasticcovered mattresses to be used by two men on succeeding nights: and that any dispute should be referred to the I national organisations, said I the secretary (Mr S F. Mar- ! shall). i Mr A S. Hollander: Is your 1 interpretation that they will ! not move to the new station? ; The chairman (Mr W. R. Campbell): I would not interpret anytffing The board indicated its stand in the matter and apart from that there is nothing further. “I would suspect that the men have gone back to their original attitude that they will not move to the new station.” Mr Hollander said “I don’t read that into it at all,” said Mr Olds. “We have invited them to put the dispute on a national level. It is out of both our hands.”

A pledge had been given by the union president in Wellington that there would be no more strikes and no more trouble, said Mr Campbell. “But since then there has been trouble, so we can’t take any notice of that now,” said Mr E G. McGrath. The board then received the union's letter.