E.F.S. WORKERS AND OVERTIME

Evening Star, Issue 24292, 5 September 1942, Page 4

E.F.S. WORKERS AND OVERTIME

FIRE SERVICE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION OF CO-OPEOATIOH When it was announced a fortnight ago that arrangements had been completed whereby Home Guardsmen and E.F.S. members could obtain leave from duties in these roles where, as essential war workers, they were called upon for overtime, tho New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation sought for n clearer ruling than was given then on the position of emergency firo service personnel. The Dominion fire controller, Mr R. Girling Butcher, has now replied to the federation's representations, and a copy of his letter has been received by the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association. “ Tbs position is,” writes Mr Butcher. “ that the emergency fire service is a technical unit, which requires a considerable amount of training, and now that larger supplies of hose are available it is necessary that, particularly in the" principal centres, training should be intensified. Instructions have therefore been given that ail E.F.S. members will be required to undertake duty at 5.30 p.m. during the weeks in which they are in billets, which usually represents one week in three or one in four. The only exception to this instruction is where the member concerned is a member of a team e» workers, and his absence would 1 have an undue effect on production of national importance.” A satisfactory arrangement to cover sucli oases had been made in Auckland, Mr Butcher continued. Each case was referred to the secretary of the Man Power Committee, who, after discussion with tho district commander of tho E.F.S. and the employer, made a decision as to whether exemption, either general or for a period, was justified. The E.F.S. district commanders had been careful to rearrange duties wherever possible so as to meet the convenience of employers. “ You will appreciate,” Mr Butcher’s letter concluded, “ that the fire service is one requiring the handling of heavy lines of charged hose and operation from ladders and the roofs and parapets of buildings. For this reason it demands a standard of age and physical fitness comparative witli -the Army. Tho only alternative to the existing system is the employment of fulltime personnel, which would remove the men from trade and industry altogether,” A copy of this letter has been sent to the district commanders in the four centres, with a request to them to co-operate witli the branches of the Manufacturers’ Association on request.