WELLINGTON FIRE BRIGADE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 8 September 1908, Page 5

WELLINGTON FIRE BRIGADE.

AUXILIARY FIREMEN DEMAND

BETTER TERMS. <

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON-, September 7. Efforts by the auxiliary firemen attached to the Wellington Fire Brigade to secure better terms of remuneration having failed a strike of twelve out of the 17 on the roll has taken place. The. auxiliary firemen are only called upon to serve in cases of serious fire, and the terms upon which they were engaged were £15 per annum retaining fee, and 2s pec hour for all time worked at genuine fires. They are supplied with a uniform—helmet, coat, and trou-. sers but "no boots. They receive no' payment for false alarm turns-out/nor for chimney fires, and this rule > forms one of their causes of dissatisfaction. Recently they petitioned for £20 per year salary per man, with annual increments of £1. This was not entertained by the controlling authorities, but an offer of £7 10s per year was made, plus an allowance of 3s per hour for the first hour at each fire, and 2s per hour thereafter; false .alarms and c •"PW nres to carry no remuneration. There is further dissatisfaction because a donation of £50, .made to the Brigade by the Premier, was giyen; at ;the rate of £1 perY man ;to;sisie jverittanent^members, and only (|Ps>Rerman W !the au^liaries. ■v;/,- : '':'': .-•v;7-/,v'.-'-v■.:>•::

The twelve men on strike are "under-' stood to regard the latest offer of the Fire Brigade"; authorities as less bexieficial_tJian the original scale of pay. It is reported that the authorities are lttno way perturbedy, and prof ess them-! selves able "to fill the vacancies twice over on the original terms.