EXEMPTION OF FIREMEN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, 25 September 1916, Page 3

EXEMPTION OF FIREMEN.

"A NATIONAL DUTY."

At its last meeting the Christchurch Hire Board received from the Vun&am ±' ire Board, a copy of a letter addressed by the chairman of that Board (Mr T. Chalmers) to the Minister of Munitions, urging him to consider the question of exempting permanent men of the Fire Brigade from military service on the following grounds:— "w 'A'hat the service performed by the Fire Brigades in.the cnief centres is a national service, protecting as they do factories and warehouses manufacturing and storing munitions essential to the Jiixpeditionary Force." "(2) That the service is not one that can be undertaken by men under or over military age, nor by men physically unfit for military service. Our men are only enrolled if between 21 and 32 j years of age, and passed as fit by our examining surgeon, the service calling' tor almost, exactly the same qualities of nerve and endurance as the firing-1 line.

[ "(3) That a fireman cannot be trained j merely by drill and exercises; actual ex- : penence at fires is necessary, and as the brigade ib only of a numerical strength of 21 permanent men, and nine have enlisted and gone to the front, it follows that it> is already unduly weakened." j "The men are not shirkers," Mr Chalmers proceeds, "and it has only been by pointing out the view herein expressed that they were serving their country more effectually by remaining to guard essential/industries, that more have not enlisted. . . It may be said, why should we not enrol married men ? But the answer to that is that we cannot possibly house them and their families on the station, nor do our finances permit of paying such an increased wage ,as would be necessary for tbe husband to maintain himself on the station and his family elsewhere." j Finally, the letter suggests that if the Minister cannot see hie way to exempt all permanent firemen, that he will at least exempt motor drivers. I The chairman (Mr H. Holland) said this w-as an important matter. He believed the War Office at Home exempted firemen from active service.

Mr H. R. Rusbridge contended that the work of a fireman was a national duty.

It was decided to endorse ihe letter (says the Press).