FIRE BRIGADE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 21 August 1908, Page 6

FIRE BRIGADE.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT, NEW SCALE OP PAY. Superintendent O'Brien, of the Wellington Fire -Brigade, reported asi follows to the City Council last evening on • resolutions passed. at a Conference of Volunteer Firemen, hold in May. last:— (1) That all hoso should bp examined once a month.—That is a duty for which the men in charge of these stations are paid a retaining fee, which is paid on tho understanding that they are responsible for tho safo keeping . and good order of all appliances provided. Should any repairs bo required, it is their placo to report to headquarters, when it will at once bo rectified. Periodical 'visits are paid by myself and one of my officers. (2) That the City Council should send out a lecturer or instructor to tho different brigades once a month. —This is carried out "and has always been done when tho strength of tho brigado will allow it Or weather permit. (3) That firemen should have freo use of tranicars when on duty, and be supplied with badges for use when not in uniform.I would recommend that badges similar ti those used by tho Fire Police Corjis be is sued to Island Bay, Brooklyn, and Kilbirnii Brigades. The Kelburne Brigade will not ro quirothem, not having the train service it their" district. . . ■ . . (4) That plans of each district showing firo plugs should bo supplied to the respective brigades.—These plans are being pro> pared. ' (5) That a general call from the Superintendent be given to all suburban brigades to muster all men so that lie knows his full strength in case of emergency.—These brigades were formed to protect thedr own districts. No number of calls as proposed would ever give me an idea as to their strength. I base that on tho roll book. Calls have been given to eabh brigado at intervals, and I consider that is all that is necessary in that direction.

(6) That uniforms be supplied to men after three months' service' in place, of six months. —1 consider this • a reasonable request. ■

(7) That the City Council ■ should be approached with reference to paying men left to watch fires. —These' men beiiig volunteers, no pay is allowed for extinguishing a firp, but' in the case of watching premises after a lire is extinguished that is a matter of arrangement • with tho insurance company interested. In such case, the officer-in-charge of brigado attending tho fi.ro will make arrangements, the pay for such duty being two shillings per hour. (8) Tho Conference also takes exception, to uniforms being issued to only fifteen members of each brigade, and asks that the uniform should include boots and pants. — Considering tho big expense in fitting theso brigades out with uniform, I would suggest that tho request that uniforms be issued to moro.than fifteen m.cn be not entertained, as tho efficiency obtained does not warrant tho expense. Boots are an article of uniform not required by this branch of tho service at present, and they are • only issued to the permanent staff. Their request for trousers is a reasonable one, because the uniform-is not complete without them. LOCAL REQUIREMENTS. • Tho report contained the following list of requirements:— lvelburne —1 fire-bell, 1 additional branch, I' life-line, 1 single-headed hydrant, water laid on to station. Kilbirnie.—l additional branch, V 1 life-lino, re-erection of tho present tell, water laid v on to station. Island Bay.—l fire-bell, I additional branch, 2 lamps for reel,-l life-line, water laid on to station. ■ Brooklyn.—l additional bell, 1 additional branch,-and'a life-line.'•' ~ Tho fire .appliances at present provided were stated to be sufficient for the requirements of tho respective districts. With regard to water services for Islaad Bay and Kelburrie, as the necessity did not warrant the expense lie could not recommend the connection. In the case of Kilbirnie, the committee had in view tho-removal of tho present station, and on that account ho would' recommend that this request bo also refused. Tho Fire Brigado Committee recommended: —"That the superintendent's replies to the requests of tho Conference of Volunteer Firemen for various plant, uniform, etc., bo sent to tho Conference, with'tho exception of his reply to request No. 8, the committee not recommending tho granting of same."

SCALE OF, PAY. A now 'scalo of pay for firemen was ap. proved by the Council oil ilio suggestion of the Fire Brigade Committee. - :The' resolutions were: — That notice be given on September 1 to the auxiliary firemen of alteration in pay, as under:—Auxiliary firemen will receive pay in accordauco with the following scale:— .Men in charge of stations, £10 per annum. Firemen, £7 10s. In addition to the retaining fees, pay will bo allowed for attendance at fires in accordauco with the following scale: — Auxiliary firomen, first hour, 35.; for each subsequent hour, 2s. No pay will be granted for attendance at drills, false alarms; or chimney, fires, unless under special circumstances, and no fireman will be entitled to receive pay under this schedulo for services at'any fire unless ho shall have received orders to attend such fires from his superiors, the ringing of the firebell to constitute an order for firemen to turn out. \