Jan. 16.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 101

By-law made by the Christchurch Fire Board.

Department of Internal Affairs,
Wellington, 23rd December, 1929.

THE following by-law, made by the Christchurch Fire Board, is published in accordance with the Fire Brigades Act, 1926.

JOHN G. COBBE,
For Minister of Internal Affairs.

BY-LAWS (INCLUDING AMENDMENTS TO 19TH NOVEMBER, 1929) RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHRISTCHURCH FIRE BRIGADE AND REGULATIONS FOR ENSURING DISCIPLINE AND GOOD CONDUCT OF PAID AND AUXILIARY MEMBERS OF THE BRIGADE.

IN pursuance of the powers and authorities vested in the Fire Brigades Act, 1926, and of all and each and every other power in that behalf enabling it, the Christchurch Fire Board makes and ordains this by-law.

The Short Title of this by-law shall be the Christchurch Fire Board By-law No. 1, and shall come into force on 16th January, 1930.

PART I.

INTERPRETATION.

1. IN this by-law, if not inconsistent with the context, the words and phrases following shall have the meanings hereby assigned to them :—

“Fire District” shall mean the Christchurch Fire District as constituted under the Fire Brigades Act, 1926, and any amendments thereto.

“Board” shall mean the Christchurch Fire Board.

“Brigade” shall mean the Christchurch Fire Brigade hereinafter established and so named.

“Members” shall mean paid and auxiliary members of the Brigade as hereinafter classified, and shall include paid and auxiliary officers thereof.

Words importing the singular include the plural number, and words importing the plural number include the singular number.

NAME OF BRIGADE.

2. The Brigade shall be known as “The Christchurch Fire Brigade.”

3. (1) The Brigade shall consist of two classes :—

(a) Paid officers and members—namely, persons who are employed solely in the service of the Board as members of the Brigade, and who are not permitted to engage in any employment outside the Brigade, except with the special permission of the Board.

(b) Auxiliary officers and members—namely, persons who are enrolled as members of the Brigade engaged in certain drills and practices, and at fires, but who follow their ordinary avocation.

(2) The rates of pay for officers and members, and the rates of pay or allowances to auxiliary officers and members shall be as may be determined from time to time by the Board, or as provided under any award made under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1925, or any Act passed in substitution therefor.

OFFICERS.

4. The officers of the Brigade shall consist of the Superintendent, a Deputy-Superintendent, and such number of officers as the Board may from time to time determine.

APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTION OF OFFICERS.

5. The appointment of the Superintendent shall be made by the Board.

The appointments of the Deputy-Superintendent and officers shall be made by the Board on the recommendation of the Superintendent, either by promotion of officers or men in the Board’s service or by engagement of men not heretofore in the service of the Board. Promotion to rank above that of first-class fireman shall not necessarily be by seniority.

RANKING OF OFFICERS.

6. After the Superintendent and Deputy-Superintendent, officers shall rank as follows: Foreman, Motor foreman, Station Officers, Senior Firemen, and no other titles will be recognized.

QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE BRIGADE.

7. Candidates for appointment must be physically strong men, free from any defect in limb, hearing, or sight, and will be required to undergo a medical examination by such legally qualified practitioners as the Board may appoint.

They must be not less than 21 (twenty-one) years of age nor more than 32 (thirty-two) years, unless they have been previously and recently engaged as active and efficient firemen, or are otherwise thoroughly competent. In such cases the limit may be extended to forty years. They must not be less than 5 ft. 6 in. in height, nor less than 36 in. in natural chest measurement. They must be able to read and write, and will be required to produce testimonials as to character and ability. They will also be required to produce certificate of birth or other satisfactory proof of age.

APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO BRIGADE.

8. Application for appointment to either the paid class or the auxiliary class must be made on a form approved by the Board, and such form shall require answers to questions regarding the particular requirements set forth in clause No. 7.

MEMBERS ON APPOINTMENT TO SERVE A TERM OF PROBATION.

9. Eligible candidates, when finally approved, will be accepted as members of the Brigade on probation only, the time of which shall not be less than three months for paid members and auxiliary members. If at the end of such term the probationer shall have given satisfaction to the Superintendent and has proved himself suitable, his appointment to the Brigade may be confirmed by the Board.

TERM OF ENGAGEMENT.

10. The engagement of the Superintendent and Deputy-Superintendent shall be for one month, and shall so continue until determined by one month’s notice in writing given by or to the Board.

ENGAGEMENT TERMINABLE BY BOARD.

11. All engagements or appointments made by the Board may be cancelled, annulled, or terminated by the Board.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

12. Leave of absence of officers and members of the Brigade shall be as may be decided from time to time by the Board or as provided under any Award made under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1925, or any Act passed in substitution therefor.

RETIRING AGE.

13. The ages at which members of the Brigade must retire from the service shall be as follows: Superintendent, 60 years; Deputy-Superintendent, 55 years; Foreman, 50 years; Fireman, 50 years; Motor-drivers, 50 years; but the Board may if it thinks fit in any special cases extend these limits for a further five years or more.

THE SUPERINTENDENT.

14. The duties and powers of the Superintendent shall be as follows :—

(a) He shall be responsible to the Board for the efficiency of the members of the Brigade and all gear used in its service.

(b) He shall have power during the probationary term of service to dispense with the services of such probationer for any cause which he, the Superintendent, shall think fit.

(c) He shall have power if he deem it necessary to engage Auxiliary Firemen or other men to temporarily fill the place of permanent firemen. And he may from time to time dispense with the services of all or any such men.

(d) He shall have power to deal with all cases of breaches of regulations, orders, directions, duty, or discipline committed by members of the Brigade in manner set forth in these regulations; and he shall have power to suspend any member for breach of discipline or misconduct of any description at any time, but must at once report such suspension to the Board. The member who has been dealt with or who has been suspended may appeal to the Board, who may hold an inquiry into the alleged breach of discipline or misconduct. At such inquiry the suspended member shall be present, and have the right to speak in his defence, and, if he desires, bring witnesses in support of same.

(e) He shall allot quarters to the members of the Brigade, and such members shall reside in such quarters as he may from time to time direct.

(f) He shall allot such duties to the members of the Brigade as he shall deem necessary for ensuring the efficiency thereof, and may withdraw any member from any special duty and allot him fresh duties at his (the Superintendent’s) discretion.