FIRE BRIGADES’ UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23516, 2 June 1938, Page 9

FIRE BRIGADES’ UNION

POSITION OF THE MEN MISREPRESENTATION ALLEGED <Peb United Press association) WELLINGTON, June 1. Surprise at the recent statements by Mr A. E. Mansford, Mayor of Palmerston North, when commenting on the fire brigadesmen’s award was' expressed by Mr L. Glover, secretary of the Fire Brigadesmen’s Union, who contended that the position had been misrepresented. The points raised by Mr Mansford were that the Court of Arbitration had in some cases fixed wages at a higher rate than those claimed by the workers, that the actual time worked by a fire brigadesman would be approximately 7J months in the year, and that in 1935-36 the Palmerston North Fire Board’s wage bill was £1557, while the estimate this year’was £6513. Pointing out that Mr Mansford had been an assessor on behalf of the employers when the claims were heard in the Conciliation Council, Mr Glover said that the workers had been keen to reach an agreement, but Mr Mansford and his fellow-assessors refused demanding that the matter be referred to the court.

It was only half stating the story to say that the men worked 7J montha year, srid Mr Glover. Fire brigadesmen were on duly continuously, whether on leave or off leave, whether this was embodied in an award or not. There had never been a case where men refus:d to spring to action when required. Further, the award laid down that each brigadesman should be confined to the station for 72 hours at a stretch before he was able to get a break off duty. Respecting an increase of staff from 12 to 24 as stated by Mr Mansford, Mr Glov'r said it was impossible to exnect full protection from fire in a big blaze in a city from 12 fire brigadesmen. Respecting Mr Mansfcrd’s comments on the wage bill. Mr Glover said that on Mr Mansford’s own admission the fire hrigadesmon of Palmerston North last year were oaid on an average of approximately £2 10s a week. Surely it was time the court altered that state of affairs and awarded an adequate wage to those important workers. The casual reader would infer from Mr Mansfnrd’s figures that the average wage would now be approximately £5 a week to men who had been previ--0" ly on an average of approximately £2 10s a week. This appeared to he an increase of 100 per cent., but the court's award granted only approximately a 20 per cent, increase on the old rates.