848 THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE [No. 30

TITLES OF OFFICER RANKS

5. In accordance with section 8 (h) of the Act the Council has given consideration to the adoption of more appropriate nomenclature for officers of the service in order that their duties can be more closely defined and the responsibility of each co-related. The alteration to the first three officer titles has been covered by amending legislation and it is desired that the following titles be introduced forthwith.

New Title

Chief Fire Service Officer (in place of Council’s Chief Officer).
Chief Fire Officer (in place of Superintendent).
Deputy Chief Fire Officer (in place of Deputy Superintendent).
Third Officer.
Fourth Officer.
Senior Station Officer.
Station Officer.
Sub-officer.

The numbers of the above ranks, of course, would only be required in accordance with the Schedule outlined in clause 2 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 V—DUTY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PERMANENT STAFF

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 subject to the acceptance by Fire Authorities of the principle of some suitable recompense.

PART VI—BRIGADE ORGANIZATION

OFFICERS

1. 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 management 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

2. 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