598

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

[No. 24

The numbers of the above ranks, of course, would only be required
in accordance with the Schedule outlined in clause 12 above. The
nomenclature will apply throughout the Service to both permanent and
volunteer officers and appropriate rank badges and insignia as outlined
in the Council's Uniform and Equipment Specifications and Badges of
Rank brochure are concurrently introduced.
It will be noted that this provides for a new rank, that of Sub-officer.
It is necessary to ensure that an officer (or Sub-officer) is available to
ride on each fully manned appliance at all times. Further, the Council
has had regard to making the service more attractive to the younger
potential officer by providing facilities for his earlier promotion to what
amounts to a non-commissioned rank.

PART VI-DUTY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PERMANENT STAFF

16. (1) The Council has based the requirements of officers and men
    on the continuous-duty system at present in operation and the following
    are the basic duty requirements of such a system. The station duty
    requirements for firemen will vary according to the classification of the
    area, depending on whether this involves the employment of a station-
    keeper only for the smaller Class D districts, a nucleus permanent staff
    in Class C and D areas, or a wholly or mainly permanent staff in Class A
    and B stations.
    (2) The following are the basic obligations of all permanent firemen:
    (a) To attend all fire calls during duty periods.
    (b) To carry out maintenance and other requisite work during
    routine hours.
    (c) To remain on call within the station precincts for the remainder
    of each duty period.
    (d) To carry out brigade drills and watch-room duties as required
    during on-call periods.
    (e) To carry out urgent maintenance and reconditioning work on
    plant and equipment and out-station duties during on-call
    periods.
    (f) To perform salvage and watching duties as required.
    (g) To respond to fire calls while on leave under the arrangements
    applying at the particular station with the limited obligations
    set out in the introduction to this part of the Code and the
    acceptance by Fire Authorities of some suitable recompense.
    OFFICERS

17. Whilst officers should be required to make the same response to
    fire calls as the men, their special responsibility will vary and will be
    required to be defined in accordance with their rank and with the
    classification of district or area in which they serve. It would appear
    desirable that the particular duties of officers in relation to the manage-
    ment and organization of brigades should be defined in addition to the
    primary duties devolving on them under section 37 of the Act, and
    whilst there will be some variations depending upon the number of
    officers employed in a brigade, the following is a broad outline of what
    might be considered the peculiar responsibility of each grade of officer.

CHIEF FIRE OFFICER

18. The Chief Fire Officer of the large brigades in the A, B, and
    C categories is required to devote the major part of his time and attention
    to the general administration of the brigade. As Chief Officer, he should
    be available during normal office hours to the public or local authority
    departments, and for this purpose he should arrange his leave of absence
    accordingly. He should normally be available for attendance at fires in
    the absence of his deputy or other executive officer, except that it need
    not be necessary for him to attend all fires on the first attendance unless
    the nature of the call would appear to justify his immediate attendance
    and he should make suitable arrangements to be notified of any unusual
    occurrence or major fire justifying his presence.

DEPUTY CHIEF FIRE OFFICER

19. In the larger brigades the Deputy Chief Fire Officer should have
    delegated to him by the Chief Fire Officer the direct responsibility for
    supervising the maintenance of stores and supplies; training of the
    brigade, including lectures; maintenance of fire service buildings; the
    testing and maintenance of fire appliances; the provision and regular
    testing of means of communication, fire alarms, telephones, radio; the
    compilation of records of water supplies; inspection and testing of
    hydrants; maintenance of fire statistics; supervision of routine duties of
    personnel; compilation of leave rosters, sickness records, personal records,
    inspections of sub-stations, etc.
    In the absence of the Chief Fire Officer, he would automatically take
    charge of the brigade and is then invested with the same powers. His
    availability should be arranged so that he is on duty in the absence of
    the Chief Fire Officer.