SHORTAGE OF FIREMEN

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 22, 30 October 1946, Page 7

SHORTAGE OF FIREMEN

POSITION IN TOWER HTJTT Superintendent H. G. Hume, of the Lower Hutt Fine Brigade, reported to the Lower Hutt Fire Board yesterday that a serious position had arisen owing to the difficulty in getting sufficient permanent staff. The authorised strength of the staff was twelve, but it had been reduced to six men, despite advertising and appeals to the Manpower Department. The married men had left because of lack of living quarters. Mr. L. Glover, secretary of the Federation of Firemen’s Unions, attended the meeting, and stated that difficulty in obtaining staff was being felt all over New Zealand. Firemen had made a claim for a new award, v and wanted a radical change in conditions and a reduction in hours. A two-platoon scheme had been drawn up which would work out at 60 hours a we'ek. Married men wanted to live in their own homes, not on the station. The Conciliation Council would deal with the men’s demands on November 13th, and before then it was hoped to hold a meeting of Government and Fire Board representatives and firemen to consider the matter. The chairman, Mr. F. S. Hewer, pointed out that the Board was vitally concerned, in view of its proposal to build a new station, in which it had been proposed to include living quarters for married men. He thought that whatever scheme was adopted it should be general for New Zealand. The proposed scheme would mean a great increase in costs. The superintendent was given authority to grade recruits as secondgrade firemen, not probationers, and the matter of going over to the twoplatoon system, as outlined by Mr. Glover, was held over until next meeting.