SETTLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 116, 19 May 1939, Page 9

SETTLED.

INQUIRY ENDED.

HOrSING DEPARTMENT

CHARGES RETRACTED.

REGRETS ARE EXPRESSED

Ap (in outcome nf iiii investigation conducted I'v the Public Service Coin-mir--iuin r. .Mr. T. .Mink, the trouble which icii'iiMv anii-e with the otlicc staff i>f the S'nte limiting Department in Auckland lijim been settled. The Inlluu ing statement wan made liii* ,il'tci iinnn by the Minister of Housing. : lion. 11. T_ Armstrong: — "At 11: \ i an inquiry under the Public Scivice Act has been conducted by the Public Service Commissioner into rcccni li.i p| cnings within the Auckland clinch ot' the Depai ttnent of Housing ( onst net ion. "Tic- i ominissioiior adviser: me that the ollitcr* concerned have retracted the clmrircs levelled by them n gainst the Department, in administration and its senior otlieers. I hey have also expressed to me in viitiii'_ r their sincere regret, for their precipitate find irregular actions, token without a full knowledge or appreciation of the facts or of the normal ami proper procedure and channels through which representations should be made. "In addition, an expression of regret Jin.B been tendered to the Public Service Commissioner. "The officers concerned have now- submitted to me certain suggestions, the adoption of which they consider would ensure greater co-operation within the Department. I have arranged for these suggestions to ho thoroughly investigated." Stop-work Meeting. A stop-work meeting of the staff of the Housing Construction Department wm held on Tuesday, May 9, for the purpose of drawing Ministerial attention to conditions in the Department

and the resignation of the inspector in charge at Auckland (Mr. E. Hedley). It was reported at that time that it tu believed that those who attended the meeting expressed loyalty to Mr. Hedley. The following resolution was telegraphed to Mr. Armstrong:— "A full meeting of the housing staff at Auckland was held to-day. A report of the meeting was lodged with the Press to-day.'lt was resolved that while iittirrninfr our loyalty to the Department and tlie Government we appeal to you personally to investigate the fundamental causes of our inspector',* resignation with a view to their removal, and that yon meet the staff here at a further meeting on Friday at three o'clock, to hear our en so and complete your investigation." Officer Resigns. When interviewed, Mr. Hedley said ■that he knew nothing of the action that had been taken by the staff. His resignation would take effect on May 19, and he hoped that ho would leave the Deqiiietly. He certainly had nothing to do with the stopwork meeting, of which he had had no prior knowledge. "As far as my reasons for leaving are concerned, they must remain private," he added. Mr. flediey had charge of the construction of the Auckland War ilenwial Museum and the new Wellington railway station. When the Housing Construction Department came into being he wan appointed inspector in chmgo at Auckland, and he has retained that post ever since. At the present time it the largest construction job in New Zealand. In Auckland alone 2300 houses have l>een completed, are in course of construrtion or contracts have been let. This total is being increased at the rate of 120 per month.