Appeal By Firemen Against Suspension

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29972, 6 November 1962, Page 24

Appeal By Firemen Against Suspension

INew Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, November 5. Allegations of discrimination according to rank in the administration of disciplinary standing orders at the Wellington Central fire station were made at an independent arbitration hearing before the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr H. M. Hopper). The matter being discussed was whether or not the chief fire officer (Mr Henderson) was justified in suspending Fireman G. Allen on a charge of bringing intoxicating liquor on to the premises of the Central fire station.

Also in question was whether or not the Wellington Fire Board’s modification of the suspension to a lighter one was satisfactory. The secretary of the Wellington branch of the Fire Brigadesmen’s Union (Mr T. M. Hill) claimed that there had been a number of instances where action had been taken against officers of the Wellington Central fire station who had broken rules or had been liable to suspension because of offences committed outside the station.

In a statement to the board. Fireman Allen said that on his off-duty day he went into the Wellington Central fire station with two flagons of beer in his possession, to use the telephone. He had called his sister-in-law, with whom he lived, and asked her if there was anything he could take home for her. He put the two flagons down while he was talking to another member of the brigade about duty the next day. The deputy-chief fire officer

(Mr T. Heid) saw the flagons and the next day, said Fireman Allen, he was suspended from duty for six days on a charge of bringing liquor on to the premises. As a result ot an appeal to the board, his suspension was reduced to two days, although the month’s disrating he received was not altered. “The board seems to lack the power of speech when they are asked why a fireman who on his day off-duty, came into the fire station and used the ’phone, got the hatchet brought down upon him,” said Mr Hill. Mr Hill said Fireman Allen “could have been severely reprimanded.” The board’s decision was not warranted. Fireman Allen did not intend to defy a brigade order.. For the board, Mr G. A. Turner submitted that Fireman Alien’s punishment was justifiable. The commissioner’s decision was reserved.