FIRE BRIGADES PREPARE TO MEET ENEMY AIR RAIDS

Northern Advocate, 12 March 1941, Page 3

FIRE BRIGADES PREPARE TO MEET ENEMY AIR RAIDS

[Per Press Association. Copriright.! BLENHEIM, This Day.

The organisation of fire services in New Zealand to meet conditions arising in the event of cities and towns being subjected to air raids was the principal subject before the conference of the United Tire Brigades’ Association yesterday.

A number of motions to be forwarded to the Minister fpr National Service (Mr Semple) were unanimously carried. An address on the Government’s proposals and emphasising the necessity for increasing the fire service personnel and equipment so that immediate training could be carried out was given by the Inspector for Fire Brigades (Mr Girling Butcher). As an outcome of a discussion on the address in committee the conference instructed the executive to confer with Mr Butcher and present certain recommendations. Auxiliaries Urged. The recommendation urged that all brigades endeavour to establish a brigade auxiliary of not less than twothirds the ordinary brigade strength. The conference considered this desirable not only to meet possible war emergencies, but to strengthen the brigades for dealing with ordinary fires and preventing the loss of material irreplaceable in wartime. It .also urged that the conference represent to the Minister for National Service that in view of the fact that the fire service was definitely the first line of defence in the event of an enemy attack, service in the existing brigades, brigade auxiliaries or emergency fire services be given preference over both the Home Guard and the Emergency Precautions Scheme, except in the case of men having special qualifications.

Included in E.P.S

The conference approved the formation of an emergency fire service on the basis recommended for the cities and larger towns, and the enrolment of unpaid voluntary auxiliaries numbering not less than two-thirds the

ordinary brigade strength, all auxiliaries to be enrolled individually as members of the Emergency Precautions Scheme, and every brigade to be included in the Emergency Precautions Scheme as a unit.