FIRE BRIGADES AND SALUTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 April 1943, Page 6

FIRE BRIGADES AND SALUTES

AUCKLAND*"OBJECTOR

AUCKLAND, April 6. Stating that he would salute no one but a commissioned officer or a gentleman holding the King s commission, a first-class fireman at.the Western Districts Fire Station. Albert Clarke, aged 43 (Mr J.J. Sullivan), appealed before the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee against the refusal of the Manpower Officer to permit him to terminate his employment with the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board. His client had been with the lire brigade more than 20 years, said Mr Sullivan, and he flatly refused to obey a recent brigade order making it compulsory for firemen to salute station officers while on duty, and he would disobey the order, wnatever the committee decided. Ths appellant was proud of his service with . die brigade, and rather than be dismissed for disobeying an order he would resign. The appellant said that many of the men were dissatisfied at the new regulation, which had been brought to their notice about a month ago. He thought the union was using his appeal as a test case. He stated that he had tendered his resignation as soon as he knew of the regulation. To his knowledge there had so far been no saluting of officers in Auckland. Mr A. K. North, representing the Metropolitan Fire Board, said that there had been a law requiring saluting for about 20 years, but it had been in abeyance for some time. It had been reintroduced at the instigation of Mr A. D. Wilson, Assistant Fire Force Officer of the National Fire Service of Great Britain, who came to New Zealand some time ago to advise firemen about fire-fighting in emergency conditions. Mr Wilson had considered, he said, that the fire brigade was not properly recognised as the fourth arm of defence, and that saluting would heighten efficiency and create pride in the service. The Superintendent at Auckland. Mr W. L. Wilson, said that a visitor had told officers attending a school of instruction in Wellington that the introduction of greater discipline had immeasurably increased the respect the English public had for the service. His own view was that saluting would definitely not raise the efficiency of ths men. Saluting was practised in Wellington, but he did fjoi consider the brigades there any more efficient than those in Auckland. However, every man joining the service had a copy of the by-laws and should know the existence of the regulation. The committee dismissed the appeal.