THE AUCKLAND PIRE BRIGADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13745, 9 May 1908, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND PIRE BRIGADE.

•Sir. —I trs:-.' yon ill allow me liii.i u,i;ior» fttni'jr rrf u-in-' a portion of your va'nahte . space (or the benefit of a section of {;!•»- 'workers of ti;i< 'community, ■ ■-.1 ««» speaking' of the Auckland City Fire Brigade. Th« :• condition* that thi-i body of men work, u!irft;f ( ' ' • are, I am sure, tittle known •to tho-*' ihyv, *rrv(! .'#6 faithfully. and admirably.. For in* yistKC. let it (n.-mWr l*> finale or married b« > only receive Iw from tint* every'eigh*f«_ clay, from 9 a.m. till 11 p.m. (14 lion?*!. lift... has no other liberty nor .holiday to look fit** ward to. ami hi* wage* aw fio bettor than what. is earned by an unskilled labourer.. 1.f.% •a member meet with an accident during the'' execution of his duty ho receives the 'mixer* able sum of £1 per week a* half<|W)% out of which bo most pay hi* own doctor'* bill. - Now 1 think that men engaged if» *'""?* *' profusion «« that of protecting the live* and property of tine public aw entitled to full pay in time of accident. and seeing that they arts confined night and day as long *4 1 they remain metnlx'r* of the hrigade, 1 also think they honestly earn and are entitled tt» two week#' holiday every year, and that, on full pay. They are, I think, also entitled to short leave such a* they receive tit present, say. three day.« in the month, and one long day of 24 hour*. In conversation with one of the men 'white on a visit to the »t«tioe I learned that they had come together in a' > body and petitioned the Fire Board through their chiet for a holiday to be Riven them annually, such a.-? if given to members of theWellington brigade ami others. The Board granted them a small tfw© In salary, which was also asked for in the petition, but refitted them a vacation of any sort. At present if any member wants a few days* leave to have a spell ami an outing (maybe at the ; end of a few years' service) undet the ruling..; :. conditions be' is. I understand, obliged to fossick out an experienced man to take hi* '.' place, and in most eases pay him a great-, vvdeal more titan he en run. himself to induce ; him to put up with the confinement for per- x haps a week. Ido not. think that fhi* i< a ; proper way to treat any lion est and : relinbte? servant of the public. [ sincerely hope that".' one or more of the loading ratepayers ■of this city will take the matter up awl see that justice is done their servants in this rivpect. I believe the worthy .Mayor of this, city is a-large, employer of labour and give* each of his employees 1* day** holiday each year on full pay.' If this it. done to van- v tage in private firms, why cannot the Fm*-. •:.•'■ Board do as much for the public employer'*.", they control? JchticE.