Public Opinion

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5282, 19 December 1946, Page 2

Public Opinion

G. B.

SKILL

PAYMENT FOR FIREjFIGHTERS (To the Editor) Sir, — At this season last year, an urgant summons was sent out for the recruitment of .firefighters. t In no time a small army of men was con-( • centrated in vital points and did yeoman service in work which was often dangerous, extremely arduous and always unpleasant. For- this they were promised payment: They have not yet been paid. It appears that the companies which eagerly availed themselves vOf the firefighters' services now ' think that the State should pay the men. The writer is not concerned with the merits of that contention. The point is that by this cavalier treatment at the hands of whoever is responsible, this army of men of godowill has now been turned into an army of men of ill will; some of them may be venge-fuily-minded. Insurance brokers, as well as investors in forestry companies, may well be alaimed at the stupidity of management which sees no menace in this sifcuation. For the safe guarding of State forests from fires spreading from privately-owned areas, Mr. Fraser and his Government would not ordinarily require a more cogent or suffiicient reason for the taking over of all forests to State control then the necessity to end- the illogical and dangerous situation which now exists. Forestry companies which accepted the services of these men last year and who have not yet paid them would be well advised to put on their thinking caps. — I am, etc..