IN 1974, A STUDY WAS MADE OF ONE POLITICAL JURISDICTION: NEW YORK STATE - IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE STATUS OF POLICE-FIRE FIGHTER WAGE PARITY AT THAT TIME. RESULTS OF THE THREE SURVEYS THAT WERE CONDUCTED TO APPRAISE BOTH THE SALARY-SCALE PARITY AND MANPOWER SUPPLY IN THE TWO PROFESSIONS APPEAR IN THE TEXT. A SUMMARY OF THE HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF THE PARITY SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES IS INCLUDED AS BACKGROUND MATERIAL, ALONG WITH AN OUTLINE OF THE REASONS FOR ITS ESTABLISHMENT. ALSO REVIEWED ARE THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO A MOVEMENT AWAY FROM PARITY IN THE EARLY 1960S. THE PAPER CONCLUDES WITH A CONSIDERATION OF PARITY SYSTEM TRENDS AND PREDICTIONS FOR ITS FUTURE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...KAP