FIRE BRIGADESMEN AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2717, 11 March 1916, Page 7

FIRE BRIGADESMEN AND THE WAR

i ii— QUESTION OF EXEMPTION SUPERINTENDENT'S VIEWS As there appears to be a certain amount of misunderstanding over Superintendent Tait's memorandum to tho City Council requesting exemption from military service for members <)f the Brigade, a Dominion reporter waited on Ivlr. Tait yesterday, and obtained a full explanation of the situation. Mr. Tait stated that he did not object to tb'e men enlisting, but in -order to serve the best interests of the city and citizens, his dosire was that-his men stioiild not be called up for service before lie was first consulted. Lot I'iem enlist, and be given a badge or button to show that they had enlisted, bv all means, 'bnt it would be n vory serious thing for, the city if several of his most efficient men were suddenly called up before ho was advised of the position, and given notjee, in order that tie could niako some 1 provision to fill their That was not a very easy thing-to do, as ono could not very -well send old or physically inferior men. into a burning buildilig, though they might be able to turn on thei water at tho hydrant. The moil must bo physically strong and alert,—above all must bo efficient in their duties. In tile brigade work a man could only become efficient by constant training and actual experience in the work. Once a staff was trained to a litie point, of efficiency, ono did not want to lose the men. 110 only liad 38 permanent' men on his staff, and in a city of the size and configuration of Wellington they were all wanted. When it was notified that certain trades were to bo exempted from service, he naturally considered that firemen were among the first to be so exempted. Tho argumont that Superintendent Tait uses is—"What is the use gf exempting certain trades, if there is'no brigade or an inadequate brigade to protect the places where such people work, and the people themselves from the ravages of fire?" It was unfortunate that the luilitary required the sanio stamp of men as the brigade did, but people should remember that the fire-fighters were prepared to risk their I'ves any hour out of the'* twenty-four all the year round to save people's lives. His request, he considered, was altogether reasonable, and ho could not imagine anyone could think otherwise. As a matter of fact, it only affected about 130 men in the whole of the Dominion, of which number Wellington hall 38. Tho authorities at Home had at once seen how necessary it was not to deplete the membership of the fire brigades. As proof of that the London journal "Fire" of a recent date contains the following reference to the London Fire Brigade: l — "The Naval and Military authorities have given instructions that having regard to the special responsibility resting on the Fire Brigade as a result of tho war conditions now prevailing, no members of the uniformei' staff of the Brigade are to bo accepted for enlistment in the. Navy or tho Army. In tho circumstances it appears that these men should be provided with badges which they can wear when not in uniform, indicating that they are members of the Brigade. Similar badges should be issued to the men employed in the Brigade workshops or the repair of liro appliances." Superintendent Tait advocates the, adoption of the scheme sanctioned at , jFome, where brigadesmen enlist (and \ one cannot prevent them enlisting), i The men, when enjisting, should be i tagged as (ire brigadosmeu (B Section), ' and have cards to show they are brigadesmen, to make certain that such a * man will not be called up until full in- ! quiry has been made into his case. B Section means tho, men on the lower rungs of the sen-ire. On no account should the_ A- Section (the leaders) be called up for military service, as they j are not only essential as lire-fighters, but they are the only men capable of fvi'ining others in lire brigade work. ! "'lint idea Lord Derhv fully subscribes ' to. and there is no reason why il should c no* he put into adoption in Welling- 1 ton." i