FIRE BRIGADES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4168, 3 August 1949, Page 7

FIRE BRIGADES

VOLUNTEER FIREMEN MEMBER’S OBJECTION COMPULSORY UNIONISM The clause in the Fire Services Bill exempting volunteer firegien from joining the Firemen’s Union unless they receive more than £25 in cash in the precedirig financial year was criticised by Mr A. S. Sutherland, M.P. for Hauraki, during the second reading debate in the House of Representatives.

There was some doubt on the part of many trade unionists as to whether compulsory unionism was working in the best interests of the country, said Mr Sutherland, who went on to say that the clause compelled the voluntary fire brigadesman to join the union if Ijp earned more than £25. New Zealand was the only country in the world, apart from Russia, that had compulsory unionism. Mr Sutherland said that he had received word from the brigades in his territory that they strongly opposed the compulsory clauses. “ I trust that in the committee stage the Minister will see that the paragraphs in clause 40 will be struck out,” said Mr Sutherland. “ I ask the Minister to deal with this matter sympathetically. He has done good work in other directions, and he will be meeting the volunteer firemen if he removes the pernicious paragraphs from the Bill.”

The Bill was read ar second time, and referred to the Local Bills Committee.