VOLUNTEERS WANTED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 224, 11 October 1940, Page 5

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

AUXILIARY FIRE BRIGADE IMPORTANT PHASE OF EMERG ENCY PRECAUTIONS SCHEME The necessity . for immediate steps being taken to counter the past and prospective depletion of the Whakatane Fire Brigade's strength through the enlistment or conscription of members and the added necessity for increased strength im view of the part which the brigade would be called upon to play should the Emergency Precautions Scheme have to operate, resulted in the Whakatane Fire Board making an appeal for volunteer auxiliary firemen , when the subject was considered by the Board on Wednesday. Extreme urgency was stressed by several members. Discussion commenced when a letter from the Inspector of Fire Brigades, Mr Girling Butcher, pointed out that there could be no general exemption for firemen. Individual appeals against service in Territorial units would receive consideration but in the case of overseas service exemption could be claimed only for key men. The Superintendent, Mr F. H. Stewart, said that four members of the brigade were now serving with Ihe forces and a further five men were under orders to proceed •to camp or would receive orders in the near future. Urgency Stressed. Mr Cumiriings wanted to know whether the brigade, would lose men through the recent ballot, and moved that if any of the men had been drawn the Board should apply for exemption on their behalf. Tills motion was carried. | The Chairman, Mr S. S. Shapley, ! introduced, the relation of the brigade to the Emergency Precautions Scheme, observing that measures would have to be adopted which would ensure that' when those enrolling under the scheme were allotted duties, the brigade should have suitable men drafted to it. Mr Wilson suggested that the Borough Council, as the controlling authority under the scheme, could, invite residents: to become volunteer auxiliary firemen* increasing the strength of the brigade for Emergency Precautions work. The organisation of an auxiliary brigade was important, said Mr Cummings, and a matter of some urgency. Steps should be taken to call for volunteers and he thought that an appeal from the Board would meet with a good response. In Tauranga the idea was working well and it could be done in Whakatane.

Mr Wilson moved that the Board, in conjunction with the "Emergency Precautions Authority, should appeal for volunteers to form an auxiliary brigade, and this was carried by the meeting.