CONTENTIOUS MATTER AS TO VOLUNTEER FIREMEN

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 July 1949, Page 6

CONTENTIOUS MATTER AS TO VOLUNTEER FIREMEN

Hint That Compulsory Unionism Clause In Bill May Be Altered

PARLIAMENT BLDGS.. Last Night (PA).—The Fire Services Bill was read a second time in the House of Representatives today and was referred to a committee.

; 11l his reply to the debate the ilinister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry) said that.the Member for Remuera (Mr. Algie, Opposition) z had handed him a suggested amendment to the contentious clause, which directed tiiat all volunteer firemen in receipt of £25 or more should be members of the union. Mr. Parry said that this clause would be given consideration in committee. Mr. A S. Sutherland (Opp., Hauraki) declared that New Zealand was lhe only country outside Russia in which compulsory unionism obtained. The Minister should withdraw the obnoxious clause to which the Opposition objected.

Mr. R. Algie (Opp., Remuera) said the whole House agreed that the Bill was a good one with the exception of the single clause, and the Government should welcome some adequate amendment of that clause. Mr. C. L. Carr (Govt., Timaru), speaking of Ballantyne’s fire, said he was not one who would cast all the blame on the firm. He thought there had been some mistakes, and some inefficiency, but it was a difficulty that it was almost impossible to give firemen realistic training except at an actual fire. Mr. Carr urged that examinations for firemen should in future l>e set and marked in New Zealand. There should be no need to send examination papers to London. Mr K. J. Holyoake (Opp., Pahiatua) said that any element of compulsion should be avoided so far as volunteer fire brigadesmen were concerned. The National Party's policy on compulsory unionism was that that should be decided only after a ballot in which all members of a particular union had had an opportunity of participating. There should not be a minority compelling all employees of a union to join. He felt that the clause at issue should be re-drafted to give protection from fear of compulsion to join a union. Even if the Bill was not amended after further evidence was heard by the Local Bills Committee, the Opposition would continue the fight in the committee stages. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry), replying to the debate, said that everyone would agree that.lt was a bad thing for two sections nr one service to be fighting and at each other’s throats.

An Opposition voice: There’s no suggestion of that. Mr. Parry said he had pursued a reconciliatory policy on outstanding matters affecting permanent and volunteer firemen, who, he said, should have settled their differences them•selves. It was unfortunate that the Opposition had not stressed the case for permanent firemen as much as they had the case for volunteers. Nor

should there have been an attack on a man who was not present to defend himself. The whole tenor of the debate seemed to be to place permanent firemen in an inferior position to trie volunteer section.

Mr. W S. Goosman (Opp., Piaho): The debate certainly did not intend to do that.

Mr. Parry said there was no other body of men in the country which had earned such high commendation as permanent firemen, of whom he was proud. Mr. Parry said that Mr. Algie had handed to him a suggested amendment of the contentious clause and consideration would be given to this in committee. The present position was that most volunteer firemen were workers within the meaning of the Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and were liable to union membership. The Minister said nis mind was open on the whole question, and he thought that the best solution could be reached by friendly negotiation between the parties concerned.

The Bill was read a second time before the House adjourned at 5 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.