FIRE FIGHTERS

Waipa Post, Volume 41, Issue 3185, 7 August 1930, Page 8

FIRE FIGHTERS

: • RETIRING ALLOWANCES. A suggestion that an art union should be conducted in order to place a superannuation scheme.,, for fire brigadesmen on a sound footing, was made by a deputation from the brigades' conference held in Wellington, to the Minister of Railways, Hon. W. A. Veitch, on Saturday. Mr R. McKeen, who introduced the deputation, said the Act provided for a pension of only £250, and a contributory scheme was sought. A fireman Was forced to retire at between 50 and 55 years of age, owing to the strenuous nature of his work. Mr H. Mayo, of Auckland, said that a remit in favour of a special scheme was passed at the last meeting of the Fire Boards' Association. It was found, however, that amending legis- j lation would be required before action could be taken. Schemes inaugurated in other parts of the world were working satisfactorily. Hardship was often experienced by men after their retirement, for they could hope for little other than casual work. Mr J. A. McKenzie, of Wellington, requested that arjy scheme agreed upon should be started as soon as possible, as many men already had 20 or 30 years' service to their credit. He suggested an art union as a means of finding money for a start. The Minister said the question was one which would have to receive full attention. He had been approached in the absence of the Minister of Internal Affairs, but he could not make any promise for him 1 . He would take a lirely interest in the proposal. Local bodies would have to find more money for the purpose. He could see no objection to the holding of an art union, but that was a question his colleagues would have to decide. It was clear that an art union would not provide eriough to place the scheme on a working basis.