Lieut.-Colonel HENDERSONI beg to move, in page 4, line 6, after the word "serving," to insert the words "as such."
This is also a drafting Amendment to make it quite clear that it is service in a fire brigade, and not in any other branch of the local authority's service.
§ Lieut.-Colonel MASONI beg to second the Amendment.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Lieut.-Colonel MASONI beg to move, in page 4, line 10, after the word, "brigade," to insert the words, "with the approval of the local authority."
A certificate has to be signed by the chief officer of the brigade at the conclusion of a man's service to certify that he is a suitable person to be pensioned. That is all right in the case of big brigades where the chief officer is a man of seniority and responsibility corresponding to a chief constable. There are, however, in addition, several very small brigades in which the chief officer is a very junior person, and it is felt that a certificate of this importance should in those instances receive the sanction and approval of a signature of greater responsibility and seniority.
§ Captain BOURNEI beg to second the Amendment.
Lieut.-Colonel HENDERSONI. am quite ready to accept this Amendment, though I am not sure that it is really necessary, because the chief of the fire brigade is the servant of the local authority, and the local authority can obviously give him any instructions they desire. I quite appreciate the point, however, that the chief constable and the chief officer of the fire brigade are not exactly in the same position, because in many cases the chief officer of the fire brigade is of a much lower status; and, if the local authorities attach any importance to this Amendment, or to a subsequent Amendment to Clause 6, also in the name of my hon. and gallant Friend, to leave out the words "chief officer of that brigade" and insert instead the words "local authority," I am quite ready to accept them.
§ Amendment agreed to.