CHRISTCHURCH FIRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 121, 25 May 1938, Page 9

CHRISTCHURCH FIRE

EFFECTIVE STRENGTH OF BRIGADE WEAKENED BY AWARD I Per Press Association. J CHRISTCHURCH, May 23. But for the provisions of the present award for firemen, probably about half a dozen extra men could have been called out for the big fire in Mac Duff's building and the State Theatre early this morning, according to the chairman of the Christchurch Fire Board, Mr. T. M. Charters, in a statement to the Press this evening. He said the extra men would have been of considerable assistance if they had been available. “As the award is at present, men who are on day leave cannot be called out in an emergency, even if they are at the station at the time,” Mr. Charters said. “To-day's fire was an emergency, but we could not call out the men who were at the station, but whose day’s leave had not expired. This naturallv weakened the effective strength of tlie brigade, fol the men would have been of assistance if they had been available. I do not know exactly what difference it would have made if we had been able to call out all the men on day leave who were at the station, as those on dav leave do not always return ai night. The married men. however and probably some of the otherwould have returned. Probably there would have been about half a dozen men available.” Mr. Charters said there was no provision whatever for calling out men on leave, even by paying them overtime. The men were simply not available in a case of emergency. Under the provisions of the award the men had 28 days off on full pay every six months, and every fourth day off. The Christchurch Fire Brigade consisted of 50 men, of whom 28 had been called out on this occasion. Some of the brigade, however, would be absent or. their 38 days' leave.