DISCIPLINE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19784, 7 March 1927, Page 11

DISCIPLINE

AN EFFECTIVE FORCE ITS BEARING ON FIRE BRIGADES “In the work ol such an institution as a Fire Brigade the importance of discipline and its effective force ’ cannot be. over-estimated, and yet in many brigades the subject is lament- ■ ably neglected,” stated past-President Freeman in the course of an interesting and important paper read at the United Fire Brigades’ Conference at 1 Gisborne last week. “The matter first of all is entirely in the hands of the officers, and they . must recognise that the efficiency of their brigade depends largely on the discipline displayed. Discipline should start with the officers, especially when moral force is the principal factor in that control. In all brigades the efficiency of tho firemen will largely depend on the zeal and energy of tho officers, who require a high degree of technical training and experience if they are to be equal to tho demands made upon them under modern conditions. As matters stand at present, however, there is no properly organised provision for ensuring the adequate training of fire brigade officers for the responsible duties they are called upon to undertake in connection with the protection of life and property from tire. It is therefore time that an organisation was formed to give more facilities to the technical and practical training of tho officers of the fire brigade service. This advocated by Inspector Hugo at a recent conference, and similar utterances have been made by our advisory superintendent; it may be possible to call the officers together at this conference to diucuss this matter, which to my mind is a very vital one. Comradeship. “There is no need for an officer to hold himself aloof from his in embers; comradeship is consistent with discipline, and if rightly used encourages and promotes true discipline. He should not bo .a man who would take advantage of another, nor use bad language to his men, for he will soon find them doing tho same, and thus the tone of the brigade will bo lowered, and it will lose its status in the eyes of the public. “Punctuality is of prime importance, whether at drill or meetings. Drills ■ should be held regularly, the roll called at the precise time, and this method being adopted will soon find all members punctual. In most volunteer brigades members exist who might be termed ‘drones.’ They will let the willing horse do the work. It is advisable to seek these men out and make them 1 do their equal share of drill and other work in connection "with the brigade. Smoking should not ? bo encouraged while at practice; nothing looks worse than seeing members smoking while on the fire engine or at drill, and this , should* be avoided till the brigade is dismissed. Should have no Favourites. i “Discipline is of most importance while attending a fire. The circumstances are exciting and members are , inclined to get out of hand, but if the 1 training has been strictly carried out, then the w r ork at fires will go along , smoothly. Officers should have no favourites, nor should be shown one man more than another. If he does so it generally ends in the brigade being di- ' vided; of course the man who does the best work, and is most reliable will get ' the confidence of the officers, but this ;is not favouritism. A fair deal to all ! will promote harmonious relations I among any body of men. “I have dealt largely here with the duty of an officer in regard to setting a standard of discipline, but in the manual issued by tho National Fire Brigade Union, it quotes the following t as a fireman’s duty, and I cannot do better than use the words written in that work: “1. A good fireman should always be ready to assist in cleaning, and any other work about tho station - no matter how small it is, and thus show ho takes a pride in his brigade and equipment. “2. To bo civil and respectful in his conduct and clean in appearance, “3. To perform nil duties entrusted to him in a prompt and efficient manner. “4. To hold himself in readiness for any duty ho may be called upon to do by his officer, “5, To study and otherwise endeavour to qualify himself to perform tho duties : of an officer, should such duties come j his way, and. thus make himself thoroughly offieient. “In conclusion, gentlemen, lot mo here state our work is a noble work, one that commends itself to the general public in all walks of life, who look to the fire service for something noble and good, ami it behoves one and all to so fit ourselves that wif are a credit to so fine an Institution, and that it will be the better for our membership,