WILL NOT JOIN UNION

Chronicle (Levin), 15 February 1949, Page 5

WILL NOT JOIN UNION

Press Association)

Fire Brigade Volunteers Take Firm Stand,

(Per

NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 14. Their decision to refuse to join fire brigades' industrial unions was cehem ontly reaiiirmed by volunteer firenien al the annuai conference of the United Fire Brigades5 Association of New Zea iand at Hawera today. No motioi. will be passed until today 's delibera tions and statements of Governuieui officials liave been considered by thf executive. Then a rehiit from tlie Hast ings brigade suggesting inmiediaL action if the Government does not agree to relieve the pressure on volun .eers, will be considered. If this remii was carried, the executive would advist the Government that it had been in .structed to take -lrastic action vvithii80 days of the opening of the next ses .sion of Parliament unless exemptioii from joining brigade unions was graut ed. Legislation covering fire brigade ad ininistratiou would probablv be consid ered by the Government withui tln next few weeks, stated the Under Hecretary for the Department of inter nai Affairs, Mr. F. B. Stephens. He stressed that this 'did not confmit tlu Government to immediate action. Tlu framing of new laws had been under consideration for some time but Bailan tyne's fire tragedy and the findings oi the Royal Foniniission had thrown a aew light on deliberations. He addetthat the Government had not at any time endorsed the views of the commis sion but it was obvious that these would have to be studied. It was noi vlie Government \s policy to interfen with the lociil control of fire brigades. Ihe creation of national control was aot intended at the moment but a ua tional orgariisatiori for general coordin ation would probablv be established. Standard System of Fire Drill. • The adoption of a _ standard system of fire protection which could be readih adapted to cover all classes of institu .ions and comnjercial establishmeiils >vas advocateil bv Mr. A. Mc.feiinetl, deputy superintendent of tlu; Inveivar gill Fire Brigade, in a papor preseuted to the conference. yir. Mc.Jennett's plans have been favourably received by the New Zealand Standards institule as drill I'or ado[)tion under tlu: proposed lire preven tion code. He urged that drill be introducei! without delay and made standard until the proposed fire prevention code wa*" framed, thus perhaps averting a repeti ; ion of the serious loss of life in Bal lantyne 's.fire tragedy. To be standard the drill must embrace premises used as hospitals, orplianages, colleges, schools, factories, emporiums and departmental stores. He said it must be simple and not tend tO confuse. The drill selectejn was known as the guard mju! monitoi system. It could be liicreased or dc creased according to requircments witi: out upsetting the whole organisation It embodied two divisions under tlu* direction of marshals, the guards forming lire combating parties and tlunionitors directing evacuation.