EXEMPTION of FIRE BRIGADES FROM SERVICE ON JURIES.

Evening Star, Issue 3567, 29 July 1874, Page 2

EXEMPTION of FIRE BRIGADES FROM SERVICE ON JURIES.

On the 22nd instant, in the House of Representatives, his Honor the Superintendent moved “That it is expedient that members of volunteer fire brigades should at their own option be exempted from service as jurors, and that ‘ The Juries Act, 1868,’ be amended accordingly,” | He said that honorable members would i “* aware that the boon now asked for had j been requested on various occasions by the parties interested, A few days ago he presented a petition from the Volunteer Eire Brigade of Dunedin, which, with the leave of the House he would read, as it set forth the exact position of the case. _ They state that in the performance of their duties they are called upon at all hours •f the day and night to attend fires, aud to work thereat for long periods of time. They state that serving as jurymen materially interferes with the performance of their duties as firemen, besides entailing a larger sacrifice of their time on behalf of the public service than they can afford ; and, therefore, they pray this honorable House to be pleased to pass a Bill relieving them from acting as jurymen while on the roll of firemen, and to grant them such other relief as this honorable House may think fat. He believed petitions were now in transitu from various parts of the Colony to the same effect. One or two were presented the er day, and one would have been presented that day by the honorable member for Hokitika had he brought it forward in time. Of course, if the House agreed to the resolution, it would be necessary, in framing a Bill, to make provision so as to confine the privilege sought for, to those who actually perform the duties of firemen. No doubt many' persons might seek to have themselves enrolled as members of Volunteer Eire Brigades in order to escape serving as jurymen; but he thought that V! Hie Bill there would be no great dimoultyin providing against anything of that kind. He might say that in Dunedin there were some thirty men enrolled as members of the tire Brigade, and they were men who were very efficiently trained, and who devoted a good deal of their time to that training. Night or day when the fire-bell sounded, those men were at their post in an incredibly short space of time. He thought Mr Speaker would bear him out in saying that perhaps there was no pact of the Colony where there was greater immunity froto

fire than in Dunedin—a circumstance which might be attributed very much to the efficiency and the esprit de corps which pervaded the fire Brigade. He did not know that there was any body of men deserving of more consideration at the hands of their fellow-citizens than the members of fire brigades. They were ready at all times to risk both their lives and limbs in contending against fire; and without fee or reward they sacrificed their own personal comfort, while other members of the community were comfortably in bed, in order to protect the lives and properties of their fellow-citizens. He did not know any bedy of men who exemplified such a mixture of philanthropy and heroism as the members of those fire brigades, and he thought they were fairly entitled to the very small consideration which it was now proposed to give them at the bauds of the House. It was on behalf of those men that he asked the House to accede to the proposition standing in his name, and he hoped ho would not ask this boon in vein.

Mr Pbarcb desired to second the motion of the honorable member. He desired to bear testimony to the very valuable services rendered to the public by the fire brigades, and he thoroughly endorsed what had been said on that point by the last speaker. It was of the utmost importance to give every encouragement to those men, who, without pay, voluntarily undertook such arduous duties. He knew that in other parts of the world very largo concessions were made to volunteer firemen; and in some cases such services were made compulsory, so essential were they supposed to be for the protection of life and property. He did not believe there was any class of men in the community who would be willing to give up their rights and privileges, and he believed that serving on juries was looked upon as a privilege as well as a right which was not to lightly esteemed ; but members of fire brigades found that serving on juries interfered with their duties as firemen, and it was on that ground alone they sought for relief from this duty.

Mr CfiTHBERTSON, a Southland member, opposed the motion, which was supported by Mr Hunter, who remarked upon there being only thirty members of the Brigade in Dunedin, to a population of (according to his account) 18,000, while two brigades existed in Wellington, numbering forty-five to 10,000. There wag no parallel between the position of volunteers and firemen, as the latter were always in active service, liable to be called morning, noen, and night, and to sacrifice their wages. The number of the brigade should however be limited. Mr Andrew commented on trial by jury, and gave instances of gross injustice through the ignorance of jurymen, and as he believed firemen were intelligent, their Haines should be retained on the jury list. Mr O’Neil supported the motion, but believed the time would come when instead of volunteer brigades, the men would be paid gopd wages. Had they had a well equipped brigade in Auckland, LIO,OOO lost by one lire might have been saved.

Mr Bryce asked that the debate might be adjourned, as a petition presented to the House on the subject had been referred to a Select Committee. A fire brigade in a small town might embrace all the intelligent and patriotic people residing in it, and it surely would not be wise to exempt them from service upon juries.

Mr Macandrew did not see what object was to be gained by adjourning the debate. He must say he regretted that many honorable members did not appreciate the valuable and important services rendered to the various cities of the Colony by the men composing the fire brigades ; but from the expressions which had fallen it was clear that those services were not appreciated. In regard to the preparation of a Bill, he saw no practical difficulty in the way of a Bill being drawn : in fact, he would prepare a Bill which would effect the object hi half an hour, much less half a day; and if the House would agree to pass it, he would undertake to introduce a Bill which would provide against abuse, and ensure that none should be exempt except bonajide firemen—men who attended to the duties of their brigades, and were to be found on the spot when fire broke out. There would, he believed, be little difficulty iu passing a Bill which would prevent "‘sham” firemen from taking advantage of its provisions. He was glad the_Government had promised to take the matter into their consideration during the recess ; but he hoped the House would not, on . that account, refrain from expressing its opinion by passing the motion. He would then prepare a Bill which would meet all the objections raised. The motion was carried.