Improvement In Firemen's Working Conditions

Chronicle (Levin), 13 February 1948, Page 6

Improvement In Firemen's Working Conditions

yy. . Plans already have been prepared by tlie board's architect for extending thc engine room,. erecting a superintendent's new residence aiid providing six addltional flats for married stafl' but this building scheme'was placed in cold storage .pending. a . decision on the retention of the continuous duty system or possible change over to tlie platoon or shift system, said the Superintendent, Mr. N. Cr.. Buick, at the meeting ot' tlie Palmerston North Fire Board yesterday. In short, he said, the board con sidered that the large expenditure involved in providing ' married men 's quarters was justified only through the retention of the present continuous dutv system; Aii efl'ort had been mado by the Fire Board's Association to obtain a. lorig term'agreement for the-reteution of the continuous duty. system in order that their member boards might have some security to justify the ereetion of ad ditional quarters. - . "I feel fairly confldent that those responsible forf demanding improvenients in the conditions of flremen wilJ never agree to commit present or future anembers to a long.term policy in the light of rapidly changing conditions, not only in the flre service, but in all avenues of employment also," he concluded.