Fire-Watching

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 291, 7 September 1942, Page 4

Fire-Watching

Sir, —Correspondents on this matter during the past few months have almost without exception claimed that the firewatching service should, be relaxed and have given many reasons in support of their arguments. They claim that they are now fully trained for their job, that their tour of duty is a drain on their work-day efficency, and, above all, that it is a waste of time/ Now, sir, we may or may not agree on these matters, and I do not propose to discuss their merit or otherwise, but it does appear to me that the really important question has been ignored. It is this: That the greatest possible contribution any citizen can make toward the defence of his country is physical fitness, applying equally to fire-watchers and all other E.P.S. personnel as to members of the armed forces. To be fully trained for any war job, civil, or military, infers that you are physically fit to carry it out under strenuous conditions for long periods. If the need arises, fire-fighting and. other civil defence jobs will not be a mug’s game, and I am pointing to the need for physical training classes at convenient city and suburban points, with compulsory attendance by all E.P.S. personnel at least twice a week. Firewatchers could attend a city class on the evening of their tour of duty. Such a scheme would be no more hardship than is cheerfully carried out by the opposite numbers in the Home Guard, who, incidentally, have had the experience of physical training and know that the reward is better health. Furthermore, work-day efficiency would be improved and no one can say that that would be a waste of time. —I am, etc., GUARDSMAN. / Wellington, September 5.