FIRE-FIGHTING SERVICES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 162, 5 April 1938, Page 7

FIRE-FIGHTING SERVICES

Award For Provincial Brigades Sought INCLUSION OF VOLUNTEERS NOT DESIRED An assurance that he had no desire to bring volunteer or non-permaneni fire brigadesmen under the scope of the award was given by Mr. L. Glover, the employees’ advocate, during the hearing by the Second Court of Arbitration at Wellington yesterday of an application for an award for lire brigades ii} the Wellington industrial district except that portion covered by the Wellington Fire Board. It was urged, however, that where such men received some recompense for their services, such as free rent and lodgings on fire brigade premises, they were following an occupation which was covered by an award, and competed for a job with permanent firemen. Mr. Justice Hunter presided, and had associated with him Mr. V. Duff, the newly-appointed employers’ representative, and Mr. A. W. Croskery, the employees’ representative. Mr. W. J. Mountjoy appeared for the employers and Mr. L. Glover for the employees. The issues on which the court was asked to give its decision were wages, definitions, annual leave, extended leave, reports of officers and the scope and term of the award.

The employees’ advocate sought wages and conditions of work similar to those in the award for the Wellington city and suburban fire brigades. The employers’ advocate contended that the rates should be as in the award for the Palmerston North fire brigade. Considerable argument centred round the definition of auxiliary and part-time workers. Both advocates made lengthy representatives to the court in the matter and also crossexamined the witnesses at length on this point. Case For The Employees.

Mr. Glover .said the application would cover approximately 34 fire brigades. The minimum wage sought was £4/2/2 for unskilled men and a proportionate increase according to skill and service He dealt with the dangers and responsibilities attached to a fireman’s job and the need for the greatest efficiency. He also stressed the principle of one man one job in referring to part-time workers. ‘‘Where these men are straight-out volunteers and do not receive payment, we do not wish the court to include them in the award,”, he said, ‘‘but where they live on the employers’ premises and do not pay rent and receive payment, and where they live off the premises and receive payment as firemen, we say they are following an occupation which is covered by an award and unfairly compete for a job with the permanent firemen, and should be covered.” The application for an additional 10/- a week for motor-drivers was based on the fact that a motor-driver had a big

responsibility and bad to be highly qualified.

John Anderson Dale said lie had been a member of Fire Brigade for four and a half years, and as president of the union had bad experience iu the adjusting of wages for outlying districts. . He thought it. was quite a fair thing that wages equal to those in the cities, should be sought for country fire brigadesmen. Excluded From Union Rules. At this stage Air. Mountjoy raised the issue as to whether auxiliaries or part-time men came under the rules of the union. He contended that they were excluded from the union rules ami that the union had no right to ask the court to fix conditions for persons excluded from their rules/

Witness replied that the rules buried auxiliaries, but not part-time workers. Continuing, witness dealt with the responsibility of a driver’s job.

His Honour: Has a fire brigade any special rights regarding speed on the road? ■

Witrie^replied that under the new transport regulations it had not, but in view of the urgency of such, calls, the public gave fire engines a clear run. However, a driver still had his responsibility. In the event of a crash, he could be dismissed,. Further evidence as to duties, wages, etc., was submitted by Ernest Spencer George Hutt, a member of the Lower Hutt fire brigade, Joseph McGrath, motorman-mechanic in the Petone fire brigade, 'and Albert James Bruce Thompson, a second-class motorman, ,employed by the Wanganui Fire Board. Employers’ Case. Mr. Mountjoy said the employers considered that the rates fixed in the Palmerston North city fire brigade employees’ award were fair and reasonable rates of pay for workers employed in the various brigades throughout the district.

Cyril Vere Day, secretary of the Palmerston North Fire Board, said that it would be a detrimental move to bring small towns under the scope of the award as it would kill the volunteer spirit, and also cause costs to rise out of proportion. He gave evidence of the number of calls received by his brigade and the fire loss. He was not aware that there was any particular risk attached to a driver taking an engine to a fire in other than in cities.

John William Andrews, mayor of Lower Hutt, said he had been deputed by the Municipal Conference of New Zealand to express to the c4urt its objection against any attempt being made to unionise voluntary fire brigades. This had been the decision reached at the Fire Brigades’ Conference and had been conveyed to the Municipal Conference, which had supported it. Referring to fire loss at Lower Hutt, he remarked that his district had perhaps been singularly fortunate, but during the past three years there had been only three fires at Lower Hutt at which the damage had been over £2O. Thomas Joshua Watts, secretary of the United Fire Brigades’ Association, gave evidence as to the decision of the conference against voluntary brigades being brought under the scope of the award; also as to the status of auxiliary or part-time firemen. David Sloan McCartney, insurance manager, Wellington, and a member of the Underwriters’ Association, also gave evidence. After both advocates had summed up, the court reserved its decision.