GASOMETER MISHAP Firemen claim payment

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33957, 25 September 1975, Page 10

GASOMETER MISHAP Firemen claim payment

A letter from the secretary of the Canterbury Fire Brigade Union, Mr G. G. Walker, seeking a payment for the men who attended the collapsed gas holder belonging to the Christchurch Gas, Coal and Coke Company, Ltd, was discussed at length at a meeting of the Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

In his letter, Mr Walker wrote that he knew the failure of the holder had been caused by poor maintenance. The Christchurch brigade was not a benevolent society for industry in Christchurch: its men were employed to put out fires, they deserved some recognition when they put in special service well above the call of the normal duty.

Mr Walker added that the union insisted on payment, or that the board join the union in seeking a public inquiry into the causes of the failure, or, alternatively, arrange a disputes committee hearing under the terms of the award.

Mr D. T. Stickings said that the Gas Company was a money-making concern, and the public should not have to pay for the brigade’s services on that occasion.

Chemical spillages were also a danger to the public, and attendances at those were charged for.

There had been trouble with the holder’s seals six weeks before the collapse, and this had been brought to the board’s attention, Mr Stickings added.

Mr E. B. E. Taylor said that the board had the discretion to charge for its services. If evidence had been brought to the board to sustain Mr Walker’s contention, then the board would have considered his claim. Mr J. W. S. Stevens said that as the board had made no claim to the company, the union had no claim on the board. “There is no dispute unless the union wants to make one,” he said.