PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT METHODS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 525, 4 June 1909, Page 8

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT METHODS

•/;:Sffi-^inc6;-jour;^ubltcatibn'.!of;' i m'/--lottcr headed ''fibvcrnmontßotrcuplimorit, l ' in your issue .of;Ma'y, : 2;'yrha'vo beenaskod by several friends ,whflther the, matter contained therein .wasV.aii'actual :.fact, they thinking it 'impost siblo'that s6;iuiEortant a Dopartmeht ns tlio 'Public could so)lower tlio, prestige of. :thb ! :Do'minion;,by acting'., towards .'any. servant ;in .so;. scandalous; a manner. :I . have, consonantly,: madp.'-'it. -'my;, business, to obtain further'information, and now givo; you- a. fewfacts, ( which ■ should. be' proclaimed throughout ((New Zealand;; as 'it appears-.' that the. .very decided ; ;(ihjustico( mentioned in' my' let-, tor-of May-2 (is sunk'irito insignificance; and beoOmes; a mere flea-bite.- in".(comparison 'with, .'former';actions iby.yliis'VDepartment-to this poor supervisor; Is there 1 no ono to plead'his'-cause?, I ask you," sir, to give 'freei ventilation to such;a : monstrous imposition/;;:;::!.;;/(;-,;;(.(:- ... ''..';;'..i'y. ',V:',:.:: .;■- .'-,.-•.. i-iltvappeafs-that'this (maii.'was. engaged-a little-over- four- years ago to .supervise sohio. publio \works;.' at Blenhoiin ,in tho other Island)) and:: upon.: completion. of tho work thorejt'was:requested to; •takb.'chargo.bf a "railway. ■ construction('. scheme starting ; rrom' Upon- arrival at'Seddon,. ho, find- : .'.was (absolutely noaccommodation;', for his /family in the form. of a hoiisej -immediately wrote',tb tho :head: of ;his ~Department(praying not. to'' be' sent" there'; well knowing • that;a:salary; of; three pounds(-ten shillings; per "week would not admit 'of two .homes. being, kept : up;; one'-. at - Blenheim :■ for ! his /jrife; - : and. his'; p'wn expenses .at: Seddon., In replyitb this'letter' he was asked'in no uncertain mariner, to savp'the Department from ; a, : scandal;and (take ;bhargo of: tho work, the !:Departmeht:;stati.ng.' that a (house., would ,bo -built; 1 a platelayor's cottage, which (ho would be.'allowed'to: occupy-Tent, free: :.I,havo this ; .letter: now..before me.;',',Mr;: -— man. now.'under reyiow,( to use his. oW words, did (not'wish ito; appear caddishji.and,; in-perfect: :KOpd|faith,' took: charge/of .the,work-, as re-' quested.: j The'cottage- which Vivas, .ultimately built-,wis : nevqr placed; at his; disposal, '■ con-; sequeriblyihe had b'eenlat an'exponse almost' :double (his; salary,'fprrnearly 1 a (year to,keep; under, the apparently mistaken.(idea.that;' ; that(,chief's'written pro-' ,miso'would-be'-kept by 'the('-Department; .It (will ; not' surprise you ..that-when' transferred, (front-Seddon; tb;;Napjpr;.;this. ihan was.iri(' :;debt,;as:,we • all /well,know..that; £3 10s.■ ,'por( week-will not'suffice forVtw^homes..('So much. fbr ; hdnburrarid;truster';:^i ; ';(/';',;; ;; ,C ; ,'■..\-

•/■/■There• : npwappKffi-'a ? '«jirlpawtively smooth period of -two gears':service in 1 Napier and iWellingtbn, during which time this Mr.'——' had vainly endeavoured to. clear 1 the debt in-. /oiirr'ed/..while/■ at;-Seddonj .his. '.continued '■troubles '.having';'.-completely, shattered 7 [ his. wife'si;;jnental : f.;b'alance, and-' rendered - her quite;nrifit for any,household duties/, He waß again-transferred to';.Napicr,yaHiving there !6n' GoodV/Friday; of ;last year,- and,:'after'try-jng/.in'/a.three-days'.continuous rain, to: find 'a' house; in {.which"''to. live, managed • to' ■;got' suited ,']and ■ residence 'by : tho, following : Wednesday, 'charging-'- his: Department/ up : to ; and .including'/thb/vhalf-day... Wednesday.: for .travelling|iexpenses;/'' / -:Any/ and.' every.;. tc's>' ..detti/;.bf,'fiavke|s,,':Bay/, cpmodation:\in";any not /obtainable/ and' yet I .have,, a : 'letter me,./sigrien. H///J;, H.'.ißlpw/'which! says/,that: he, ;this <Mr;y/-^;''^ 'immediately,.{upo'n • arrival,.. in ':.; Napier, uiid that.no expenses.would be allowed.past.-.-the ;dSy//of;;his'-actualoa'itival 'in-'/Napier,-' viz.; 'Good -'Are;;, there-, rip '-'.Civil;. Service rule's 'to. 'goyoniia'.case'.of■ this 1 kind? ''.Is"this persecution to 'pass; without ; being', brought /to ■ligH?:^'^,^/;:.^;:;^"'""^^^^^'^;--^;,/.' /■';; Is, it; any /wonder /that, upon' receiving. his : 'nbtice/ : bf/dismiss'alj,'the'poor..fellow was, com-ipelled'.-tb./filei/his*■ schedule".as;-bankrupt, to ,save'vhimself/from/'imprisonment for/a;debt •pi ■/.three';•pounds, ; ;,;largely:,/made /up, of; law cbsts..;.;.ln: conclusion^; l ■ am/further {informed that, ever,/since;a.new/officer,/ (a-district ;.'en■pkce^vin>charge i of , the" district; .this/supervisor i,ha's:'{had, nor/travelling/ ex-, penses / refunded,, ;yiz. .last i'-ye'ary^'Vend ; .:of;'iApW : ! pf';. i liis'' year.' \ T hope ■th'at/ypu will/consider it fair'and in the interests; of;-justice.),to;/'ask"/that, be made -into/this 'persecution 'of : a., friendless arid/brbken/{,public/servant,:, left ..stranded; at ;Hastin^s,^huridreds\pf{niiles{;fronv; the /place; from'whioh ; ,he /was/engTged^r'amj etc., J i ; -"JON: 2.6:;,-■/'///:;.{; ,;,/; ; v:v ;:;■:■{'/'■