MODIFIED DEMANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1943, Page 4

MODIFIED DEMANDS

ON EMERGENCY FIRE SERVICE

REDUCTION IN NUMERICAL STRENGTH.

AND IN TIME GIVEN TO TRAINING

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day.

After consideration by the National Fire Council, fire brigade superintendents and technical officers, a considerable modification of training and reduction in the number of personnel in the emergency fire service has been decided upon.

■There were very important considerations which made it necessary to retain the E.F.S. organisation to a greater extent than other sections, said the Minister of Civil Defence, Mr Wilson, today. Fire brigades had suffered considerably by the withdrawal of experienced men for military service, and notwithstanding constant endeavour it had not been possible, up to the present. to maintain the numerical strength of the regular permanent and volunteer brigades, but special steps were now being taken to overcome this difficulty. ■ Fire risk had materially increased, due to the establishment of war industries and the storage of dangerous goods, and the risks were still considerable.

Notwithstanding the reduced dangers from enemy attack, the War Cabinet had decided to retain the general organisation, but to cut down the active strength by about fifty per cent, leaving some 1,200 men spread over vulnerable areas. The remainder would be placed on reserve. Further relief would be afforded to personnel by materially reducing the time required for compulsory training, which had been fixed at two hours per month for places outside four main centres. “It is essential, however, to retain a more active organisation in the four metropolitan areas,” Mr Wilson observed. “Consequently arrangements are being made whereby an adequate force will be kept in billets. Here, again, steps will be taken to reduce demands on personnel to a minimum by distributing duty among as many men as may be retained on the active strength, to ensure that each man may not be required to stay in billets for more thtm one week in seven or eight. Apart from this duty, men will only be required to attend one parade monthly.” The services rendered by members of the E.F.S. were fully appreciated by the Government, Mr Wilson said, and he had been very much impressed by the high standard of efficiencj r attained as a result of the enthusiasm of members and of those who had supervised the general training and organisation.

Mr Wilson emphasised, in concluding, that the principle upon which the E.F.S. had been established —the provision of an auxiliary service to assist the regular fire brigades—was being fully adhered to.