WAR FOOTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 143, 13 December 1940, Page 8

WAR FOOTING

FIRE BRIGADES

WAR CABINET DECISION

ADDITIONAL MEN

The statement that the War Cabinet had decided to put fire brigades in New Zealand on a war footing and that the intention was to draft certain men for training as auxiliary firemen, in lieu of Territorial service, was made today by the chairman of the Wellington Fire Board (Mr. S. S. Dean). He said that these men would be required to attend training on three nights a week and at weekends, and that they would be paid on the basis of Territorial rates.

Mr- Dean referred to the War Cabinet's decision when addressing officers and men at the Central Fire Station before attending the meeting of the Fire Board. In wishing them the season's greetings and complimenting them upon their efficiency during the year, he pointed out to the brigadesmen that the training of the auxiliaries under the scheme to augment the fire-fighting services to meet the situation in the event of an enemy raid would involve extra work on their part. He was satisfied, however, that they would maintain the high standard of efficiency with the brigade and would rise to the occasion in any emergency situation.

Mr. Dean referred to the value and importance of the work of brigadesmen, which, he said, had been well exemplified by what had been achieved by the firemen in England since the bombing raids on that country began.

In the event of any raids the firefighting service would be in the front line—even before the Army.

The superintendent (Mr. C. A. Woolley) thanked Mr. Dean and conveyed to him and the other members of the board the season's greetings on behalf of the men and himself.

A set of the large key and zone maps of Wellington prepared by the engineer's department of the Wellington City Council under the Emergency Precautions Scheme was displayed, and it was decided to order a copy of the set for each of the other stations to supplement the • present brigade maps and other data. These E.P.S. maps contain a wealth of information and show fire emergency sumps, fire alarm call points, and stop valves. ■ It was stated that it was intended to make available to the wardens appointed under the scheme a photostat copy of the map of the zone to which they were assigned for duty.