PUBLIC WORKS PAINTERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1214, 24 August 1911, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS PAINTERS.

9 . ißy TAlecrtoh-Pncinl .rnrrdPPnTnlnnl' •Auckland, August 23. The "Star" professes to have ascertained after persistent inquiry that, nothing has benn brought to light in Auckland that will substantiate the petition presented to Parliament by Mr. W. F. Massey, M.P.. and purporting to emanate from pointers and'carpenters in the employ of the Public Works Department in the Auckland district. The painters and earprnters in the city (says the "Star") disavow any knowledge of any such petition, and express indignation at the allegations made. It is true that there was at a comparatively recent .date some, change made in the staff of painters, but the cause of the change was not that the materials supplied to the men were inferior, or that the men were asked to do scamped work. It is confidently stated by the local workmen that anyone will find it difficult to support in fact any allegation against the Department of using inferior material or of encouraging the workmen to work below the ordinary standard. STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEY. In reference to the above matter, Mr. Massey told a Doinsios reporter last night that shortly before the session two men, who said they had been tradesmen in the employ of the Public Works Itepartment, waited upon him in Auckland and asked him to present a petition on this question. He promised to do so, provided the petition was in proper order. He had since received the petition, and pre-Fon-ted it in the ordinary way. Mr. Mass;y added that he believed in the principle that every citizen who has a grievance has a right to have a petition presented to Parliament in connection therewith, and he scarcely ever declines to present a petition, so long as it is in accordance with the Standing Orders. This particular petition bore 8 to 10 signatures. It was referred to the 51 to Z Petitions Committee, and would be reported on iti the usual course.