FIRE BRIGADE

Evening Star, Issue 19559, 18 May 1927, Page 14

FIRE BRIGADE

f EMPLOYEES WANT INCREASED WAGES DISPUTE BEFORE ARBITRATION COURT , The Arbitration Court_ yesterday afternoon heard the application of the Dunedin Fire Brigade Employees’ Union for a new award. His Honor Mr Justice Frazer presided. Mr J. P. Morris appeared for tho board, and Mr J. Robinson for tho union. Mr Robinson, in the course of a longthy_ statement, said that, although the union had been in existence for many years, that was the first time it had been found necessary to solicit the assistance of the court in having its wages fixed. On previous occasions a complete agreement was secured in the Conciliation Council. The present award came into operation .in May, 1925, and tho court increased tho basic wage by Id per hour about 4J months after it was made. The union asked fhat the wages be as follows:—Probationers, £3 11s per week: third-class firemen, £3 16s: second-class firemen, £4 Is; first-class firemen, £4 8s; senior firemen, £4 11s. They were seeking an increase of 4s per week for the first three classifications, 6s per week for the fourth, and 6s 6d for senior firemen. It was asked that married men who were not provided with quarters should bo granted a bouse allowance of £1 per week. This amendment was in the terms of the Auckland agreement.

The union also submitted that firemen and motor drivers, on completion of three years’ service, should be paid Id per day extra during the fourth year of service, and thereafter Id per day for each succeeding year of service until a total of twelve years had been completed That was also to bo found in the Auckland agreement, and was clearly a recognition of long service.

Hg contended that the work done by firemen could not bo assessed by the ordinary standards applicable to other occupations. The value of their work could on!} be measured by the risks they ran in saving the lives and property of tlm citizens. Mr J. P. Morris, on behalf of the hoard, said that what had surprised the hoard was that the matter had conic before the court, seeing the union was so conciliatory in 1925. The Dunedin men were, paid £25 per year from the general fund, but this was not done elsewhere. A first-class fireman receiving £4 2s Gd per week here received house allowance, free coal, lighting; and uniform. Tho fireman was really in a better position than tho ordinary skilled worker. There was no comparison between Auckland and Dunedin. The population of Auckland was 180,000 and Dunedin 77,000. There were naturally many more fire calls in Auckland than in Dunedin A good many of the men admitted that the Dunedin Hoard was very generous. Tf the board acceded to the union’s demands it nimht have to find its own remedy, and discharge some of the men. John Thomas Hama an, secretary of the Fire Board, said the hoard appreciated the good work done by the men, and tho relations between tho men and the hoard were always most amicable. Witness considered there 'was not a brigade in New Zealand which had better conditions than those provided in Dunedin. A man in Dunedin was able to save more than those elsewhere. His Honor stated ho would make known his decision later.