INQUIRY SOUGHT

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20510, 28 May 1938, Page 8

INQUIRY SOUGHT

FIRE CONTROVERSY

LABOUR FEDERATION’S MOVE INTERESTS OF FIREMEN (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday The Canterbury district council of Die New Zealand Federation of Labour lias announced its intention of pressing, in the interests of firemen, for a public inquiry into Monday morning's fire and related questions. This was announced in a further statement made by the council's chairman, Mr J. Roberts. "sfix men who were at the station, but whose leave did not expire until 8 a.m., reported for duty at 6-45 a.m. at the central fire station on the morning of Mac Duff’s fire, and, although told there was an outbreak in the city, were not given orders to proceed to the fire," said the secretary of the Christchurch Fire Brigade Union, Mr W. H. Mathieson, when replying on behalf of the men to a statement by Mr T. M. Chartera, chairman of the Fire Board. “The six brigadesmen mentioned, an officer and five itien, were on the station premises when the call was received at а. but as no emergency alarm wae given they did not report until б. a.m.” Mr Mathieson said that Mr Charters had made the following statement:— “But for the provisions of the present award for firemen, probably about half a dozen extra men could have been called out.” Also he had stated that extra men would have been of considerable assistance if they had been available. Mr Charters had said later that in actual fact the number on duty was sufficient, which was a direct contradiction of his previous statement. ‘‘lf. as Mr Charters states," said Mr Mathieson, ‘‘there were sufficient men at the fire, why were three policemen pressed into service to help to operate the extension ladder between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m-, and a sergeant of police directing a hose from Colombo Street on to the State Theatre building?”