HEARING BEGUN OF PETITION

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26211, 7 September 1950, Page 3

HEARING BEGUN OF PETITION

ALLEGED WRONGFUL DISMISSAL (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 6. Alleging wrongful dismissal oy tha Ministry of Works, Bruce Murray appeared before a Select Committee cf the House of Representatives to-day, seeking reinstatement, £434 Ils 4d at loss of wages, and a further sum in compensation. Appearing as the member for the district sponsoring the petition, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Fraser) said that the petition deserved the careful consideration of the committee because “it appears that a man was conscientiously doing his duty and suffered as a consequence.” In his petition. Murray claimed that he had been dismissed in March last from his employment as a clerk of works solely because his sense of duty forced his senior officers into taking notice of his complaints against the contractor’s foreman on the Ruamahanga river bridge, near Masterton. The petitioner claimed that as supervisor of the bridge job, he “discovered and reported to his superior officer! from time to time numerous’ and deliberate actions by the bridge crew, and in particular by the foreman of such crew, involving malpractices in the mixing and pouring of concrete, which was of primary Importance to the [ stability and safety of the bridge!” • A report from the chairman of the [ Public Service Commission (Dr. R. M. Campbell) saying that Murray’s dis- , missal was a result of h ; s refusal to accept a transfer, was read to the committee. A statement from the Commissioner of Works (Mr E. R. McKillop) said that the decision to transfer the petito Featherston was made because the district .engineer believed there, was no longer justificat ! on for a full-time clerk of works on the Kuamahanga job. “Personal relationships betwen the contractor’s foreman and the oetitioner were such that constant friction arose,” said the statement. A number cf defects were recorted by the petitioner, said Mr MeKillop, but in every case these were remedied by the contractor. The comm|ttee adjpurned the hearing until next week. Local Bodies’ Conference.—The Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday granted £lO towards the cost of holding a conference of the South Island Local Bodies’ Association in Akaroa next month.