MUST EVERY MAN GO?

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 204, 17 May 1918, Page 6

MUST EVERY MAN GO?

CITY CORPORATION'S

POSITION

RECENT DECISION RESCINDED

APPEALS PERMISSIBLE

On February 2 the Wellington City Council passed the following resolution:

That the City Council, whilst regretting that a considerable number ' of its most valuable officers have ' been called up in the ballot under the Military Service Act, feels that it would be failing in its duty to the Dominion and the Empire at the presout time of crisis if it promoted any appeal for their exemption. At last evening's meeting of the council Councillor L. M'Kenzie moved that that resolution should be rescinded.

The Fire Brigade's Position, The council had belore it at the same time tue following report from the Fire Brigades Committee, which staled that they had given consideration to the council's resolution, not to apply ior exemption from military service lor any corporation employee drawn in tlio ballot under the Military Service Act, and tney desired to draw the attention of the council to the serious effect such a policy, would have on the efficiency of tho Fire Brigade staff. In order to show councillors the effect on the brigade of their recent decision, they presented a copy of o. letter forwarded by the superintendent to the Commandant of the New Zealand Defence Forces, in connection with the appeal for Deputy-Super-intendent B, TV. Kobertson, as follows:— "In appealing on behalf of Deputy-Su-perintendent Robert A. Robertson, this department desires to point out that the efficiency.of the professional staff is at present much lower than it should be, chiefly on account of the lack of practical experience on the part of the majority. of its members, coupled with tho difficulty 'of getting suitable men for the work. Only eight members of the pre-war staff remain, made up' as follow:—Second Division, 3; Class C 2, 1; adjourned sine die, 3; non-reservist, 1: total, 8. "The eft'ectivo efficiency of a professional staff can only be measured by the length of service of each unit, with his intimate knowledge of the city and ita risks, backed up by sound training, together with practical fire-fighting experience. The present composition of the whole of the professional staff is:—Second Division, 5; Glass C 2, 12; adjourned sine die, 7; non-reservists, 3; /returned soldiers, 4; under age, 3; short of complement, i: authorised strength, 38. ] "From tho above figures it is obvious ' that if the civic and Government risks are to receive anything like the protection they require from serious losses, ! further depletions in the experienced professional staff should cease. The officer i under review has served upwards of four-i teen years in this brigade." Tho committee recommended that the ' council authorise tho committee to appeal on behalf of all permanent Firo Brigade men in the military service bal- i lots. . i

Discretionary Power for Chief Officers. Councillor Jl'Kenzie said he had taken the course of moving to rescind the previous resolution in order to safeguard the council against a too-rigid policy. The previous resolution might result in a sorious position. In addition to moving to rescind the resolution of a fortnight ago, he moved to substitute it with the following resolution:—

That, n-liilo the council affirms the principle that .every man possible must bo snared for service' who may be drawn in the ballot, they feel that full discretionary power be left with the chief officers lo appeal for employees whose loss would seriously inconvenience tlio' city's works, believing the tribunal set up by the Government can bo trusted to safeguard the country's interests. Councillor C. 13. Norwood seconded the motion for rescission. The councillors were not dealing with their own money, and they should see that the citizens' affairs were efficiently run. It' was not a case that everything could "go to tho devil" so long as we won the war. Councillor A. It. Atkinson: Tho best way to loso the war is to let everything "go to the devil."

Councillor Norwood said the military service boards would decide whether any man the council appealed for should go.

"No Man Indispensable,"

The Mayor said that no man was indispensable. The appeal boards were "wrongly constituted." They should only deal with men utter thov n«d gone into camp, li a man was called he should go to camp, and if there was a desjre to get him out to put through any work then the boards should deal with the matter.

A councillor: The boards then have no power.

Ihe Mayor: "Just so, but the boards should not prostitute the men in this way." The appeal boards discriminated between individuals. It was sickening to read in, tho papers of some of the appeals that were made to get other men off. As to the Fire Brigade, if there was a shortage of men, good firemen could bo picked up on the wharf to-morrow. It was scandalous to say that- because some were just above military age they wero not fit to become efficient hremen. If so many tramway men wero called that the services would have to be shortened, he would stop cars rather than prevent men from doing their duty. The Government had passed legislation empowering them to transfer men from ono industry to another, and if this was not done soon, pressure from the City Council and like bodies would have to be brought to bear on the Government. The Mayor said that he would stand by the previous resolution.

Councillor G. Frost said that he would support the attitude of the Mayor. He thought that the Government had set a very bad example, as it was permitting appeals by many of its Departments. Councillor W. H. P. Barber said that iu a general way he fully endorsed the sentiments expressed by the Mayor, but he wished to point out that the council had already appealed for members of the Fire Brigade. The brigade was four members short, despite advertisements for men. Tho need for an efficient brigade was greater to-day than ever before. If a transport caught fire end the }>rigado saved it, would not that be a valuable work?

Councillor M'Kenzie: Of course it would.

Councillor Barber: There is nothing moro destructive than r. large fire. Tho brigades must be kipt eicient at all costs. Not only the ordinary property but the military stores, the boot factories making military boots, and so on, must bo protected. If the council cares to go to the expense of providing and equipping quarters for inarrifd men adjacent to the fire station i=omething may be done.

Tho Mayor: What about fitting out the Star boating sheds?

Hands Should Not bo Absolutely Tied,

Councillor M. I<'. Luckis raised the question: of whether it was wise 'to be taking troops from hero seeing that a transport oporatiug from America could do so much better in tho way of conveying men to the Western front. Ho was anxious to see tbt best done, but the resolution of a fortnight ago might unnecessarily tie tho hands of the council. Seeing that it was said that the only thing that was preventing America from sending more men to tho Western front Was want of shipsj. the chief vttluo of our sonding small r umbers of troops from here lay in the fine exumplo to tho rest of the world. Councillor W. H. Bennett said that his patriotic sentiments moved him to vote with the Mayor, but his commonsenso told him that he must support Councillor M'Kenzie's motion. The men of vital departments that it would be necessary to app;al for Mould probably bo countable on the fingers of one hnnd. If the council reviewed proposed appeals that would l>e a stifficioiit safeguard. Councillor W. T. Hildreth spoko in opposition to the motion for rccission. Councillor W. A- Veitch did not think

it was quite the thing for the council to absolutely tie its hands. II; should ho conservative in its appeals, but should resorvo to itself liberty of action.

Councillor E. A. Wright also thought that the resolution of February 2 was too stringent. He pointed out that money whs essential to the winning of the war, and that a certain number of people must bo kept employed and earning money in order to pay the huge expenditure, and also to keep the men going who are at the front. The Mayor nod spoken of getting firemen from the waterfront.

The Mayor: Yes, I think we can.

Councillor Wright: What! Watersiders are being exempted as essential workers, and they aro ping to come up here to work in an industry that is not es6eutial! I understand that waterside work is to bo declared essential, and the wntersiders aro to bo exempted wholesale. Perhaps it has already been done.

Councillor Hildreth: Not yet. Councillor Wright: Well, it is intended to do it.

Rescinding Motion Carried. Councillor A. E. Atkinson agreed with' a good deal Councillor M'Kenzie had said, but did not entirely agree with his motion. He thought the new motion might bo improved by altering it to read "city's essential works." On a division being taken, the voting was:— ' Ayes (8). Noes (7). Barber. The Mayor. Bennett. Castle. Godber Frost Luckie Hildreth. M'Kenzie. Shorland. Norwood. Thompson, Veitch Atkinson. Wright Councillor M'Kenzie's motion was therefore carried.