FIGHTING FIRE BOMBS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 January 1941, Page 9

FIGHTING FIRE BOMBS

| OBLIGATORY service IN BRITAIN I i I ! MEN & WOMEN FROM SIXTEEN | TO SIXTY. MR. MORRISON'S SURVEY i I (British Official Wireless RUGBY. January IS. The Minister of Home Security, Mr ‘ Morrison, announcing the Govern- i merit's new compulsory scheme foi • fire-bomb fighting today, explained ■ that he was taking power to impose I compulsory part-time service in all j branches of the civil defence force for j mon and women between the ages of i 16 and 60 years. For the lime being these powers i would be used only in connection with,' the fire-prevention service, for coun- ‘ tering fire-bombs. Also for the time ' being the power would apply to men ‘ only within age-limits which the Min- j ister would determine. ! . The amount of compulsory service [ required is not to exceed 48 hours a ! month and the order will apply in al! ' areas where a fire raid is likely to be ; great. The scheme includes residential as j well as industrial and commercial pre- > mises. and for industrial and commer- ; cial premises all occupiers of factory | office buildings in the area to which: the order applies will be required to ; make satisfactory arrangements for i fire prevention and in particular to I ensure that enough people are avail- ■ able, each with their allotted task, j There will be a general obligation I upon men of all grades, including the I management, to take a turn of duty in i fire-bomb tight mg outside normal j working hours. For this service they i will not be entitled to remuneration. I li' arrangements, either on a voluntary or compulsory basis, are not made by the occupier, the appropriate authority is empowered to step in and make them, charging the occupier with any expenses involved. Compulsory service at the place of work takes precedence over compulsory service at the place of residence I but those already doing 48 hours civil j defence service monthly in a residential area will not bo liable to be called j upon for duty at the place of work. 1 For residential protection each local | authority to whoso area the order applies will bo required to organise parties of fire-bomb fighters to cover al! that part of its area other than factory and commercial premises. A regional commissioner will decide which local authority areas have not at that stage enough volunteers serving to operate the schemes. In those areas which he considers insufficiently staffed, he will direct the local authority to require men in certain age groups to register. The local authority will then give public notice that all men thus registered are called up for fire prevention duties. The fire-bomb machine is already being tackled with effective zeal. The latest champion is an old lady, who on her 99th birthday alone in a house mounted to the attic and with sand and water kept the dames in cheek till the ceiling collapsed on her when she decided to obtain additional help. » LATEST REGISTRATIONS 'Brilisti Official Wlrele-s RUGBY. January IS Registration of the remaining half i of the 191)4 class was completed today i The total of those who registered last | Saturday and today is not ><•: available.