WAGES OF FIRE-FIGHTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16408, 9 December 1916, Page 7

WAGES OF FIRE-FIGHTERS.

BOARD OFFERS WAR BONUS. UNION ASKS FOR INCREASE. ARDUOUS CONDITIONS. -The Auckland Fire Brigade's dispute came before the Arbitration Court yesterday. His Honor Mr. Justice Stringer presided, with him Messrs. W. Scott and J. McCullough as assessors. W ages and house allowance were ill dispute, the employers, the Auckland Fire Board, oflering a 10 per cent, war bonus. The men asked for increases ranging from 7 to 10s 6d a week, the present wages being from £2 5s to £3 6s. Mr. W. E. Sill, for the men, said there were o2 members, comprising the union, and they were all under one employ. He submitted that the present rate of wages was not commensurate with the responsibility or the sacrifice entailed in the duties of a fireman. The worker, too, it was contended, was entitled to a share in the prosperity of the Dominion. Ihe increased cost of living emphasised the workers claim for the favourable consideration of the Court. T!isk was involved in a fireman's work, and its trying nature was exemplified by the fact "that at 50 years of ac;e a fireman must retire. A motorman retired at the age of 45 years. There was no eight-hour day. 110 Saturday half-holiday, and only one Sunday off in seven. With the exception of 15 ours' leave on one day in six, and 14 days annual leave, tire fireman was confined to the narrow limits of the firestaticn for seven days a week the year round. By that arrangement, the board effected a fairly large saving in wages, hut it involved considerable sacrifice on the part of those subject to it. Mr. Sill said there were 17 married men employed, three of whom were provided with married men's quarters. The other 14 were granted 10s a week house allowance, which, the union asked, should be increased by 5s a week. It might be called a separation allowance, because the duties of a fireman meant that he must live practically apart from his wifp and familv. Ten shillings a week was not sufficient recompense for the disability entailed. Mr. Sill said the increases proposed represented £12 14s 6:1 a week and £661 14s a year. The house allowance increase asked for amounted to £5 10s a week, and £182 a year, makins a total of £845 14s for the year. Of that sum, £421 17-- would be paid by the Auckland City ' Mined, and a similar sum bv the insurance companies, of which there were 50. making £14 12s. the annual share of increase to be paid by each company. Mr. S. F. Wright, for the board, said that fire fighting was not an industry, and the general work of firemen was not strenuous. The rates paid in Auckland were similar to those in the other tarpe centres of the Dominion. With the addition of 10 per cent, war bonus to the men's wages, the Auckland brigade would bo the most expensive in New Zealand. The board considered itself to some extent custodians of public money, and that thev must, be charv in its expenditure. Evidence was called on both sides. The Court reserved decision.