FIRE BRIGADES

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21690, 28 March 1942, Page 4

FIRE BRIGADES

ESSENTIAL SERVICE DUTIES IN WAR DEMAND FOR RECOGNITION (By Telegraph. —Press Association) WELLINGTON, Friday “We demand from the Govem- ; ment a straight-out statement on j what our position is to be. Are we going to be the Cinderella service, or are we esesntial?” said Mr O. Wilkinson, Motueka, speaking at ihe fire brigades’ conference today. Fire brigades had been referred to as the fourth defence service, he said. Speakers said they feared the depletion of brigades would lead to sericus inefficiency. Mr Bockett, Controller of Manpower, said the question of declaring fire brigades an essential industry was being considered and, he thought, would be dealt with m the next few days. j In response to speakers who said j brigades had not received sympathei tic treatment from manpower com- : mittees, Mr Bockett said it would seem the committees had not always followed the advice they had been , given, and steps would be taken to I see that, in tuture, brigades would j not have cause for complaint. Should Not be in Home Guard ! Members of fire brigades should j not be members, of the Home Guard, ! said Mr Bockett. | Every fire brigade in New Zealand j should consider immediately what • help it could give to a neighbouring ! brigade in a case of enemy action ! causing fires, said Mr R. G’lling Butcher, inspector of fire brigades. ] The following officers of the Fire Brigades’ Association were elected: President, Superintendent W. L. Wilson, Auckland; vice-presidents, Superintendents A. Morrison, Christchurch, A. Craig, Hamilton, H. E. j Follas, Devonport, 'C, A. Woolley, j Wellington; executive, Superintendents T. Anderson, Rotorua, C. 11. j Carey, Patea, C. W. Tyler, Rangiora, •H. J. Price, Hastings, and Mr S. j Hayne, treasurer, Mr C. A. ; Osborne, Onehunga; secretary, Cap- ! tain T. J. Watts, Newmarket, sctnI tific and research committee, SuperI intendents Wilson, Woolley, Morrison, Craig, Follas, Captain Watts and ! Mr Osborne. | RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENT j ONE UNIT FOR NEW ZEALAND (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Saturday Plans for organising the fire-fight-i ing services throughout New Zea- : land into one unit as in England j were discussed by the United Fire i Brigades Association conference toj day. | In the event of an enemy attack on '■ a particular area it may be neces- ! sary to call on adjacent areas for j the supply of equipment and men. | For example, Wellington could call on Manawatu and Wairarapa, the j system being based on the principle : of backing up throughout the country. ! It is important, it was agreed, that ‘ brigades should get, without delay, the permission of their local bodies to use equipment and men so that the maximum mobilisation will be possible where needed without delay.