FIREMEN CALLED UP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 May 1941, Page 4

FIREMEN CALLED UP

NO APPEALS FOR SINGLE MEN. ATTITUDE OF MASTERTON BOARD. — The Masterton Fire Board, at its meeting last night, decided to adhere to its original resolution not. io lodge appeals against the calling up of single firemen for overseas service. In the case of married men the board’s local committee would have power to deal with each case on its merits. The matter was raised by the Superintendent. Mr T. B. Clark, who stated that if the Wellington Fire Board could get men with 3 months’ service exempted he should be able to have men with 3 years' service exempted also. Mr Kemp: “I think it is absolutely wrong to part with one of our permanent men, if the Government's information as to the seriousness of the war situation is correct. The Superintendent has had trouble in getting men.” Mr L. A. Hutton stated that only key men would be appealed for. Mr Kemp stated that applications were called for Territorial firemen, under the Emergency Fire Scheme. Of the 12 applications received only four men were passed as fit.

Mr Trevor Beetham: “Men should have been, conscripted for the E.F.S. from the start.” "We should not appeal for single men,” said Mr W. Candy. "If all organisations were to appeal where would we be? If we Can’t replace them we must do the best we can.” Mr Mason: “For that matter hundreds of thousands of ‘key’ men are overseas.”

It was decided to adhere to the resolution passed by the board some time ago.