‘Heavy-handed’ action over graffiti

Press, 24 October 1978, Page 2

‘Heavy-handed’ action over graffiti

PA Wellington The president of the Public Service Association (Mr D. H. Thorp) yesterday described as “heavy handed” action taken against two apprentice- involved in graffiti that appeared in the yellow pages of Wellington’s new telephone directory. The two have been charged under the State Services Act for what Mr Thorp terms a “boyish prank.” Three pages of the 283,000 directories just distributed contain the graffiti, which includes in one instance an addition to a male figure. , >, ; The charges were pre-' ferred and will be decided by the State Services Commission without a hearing, according to Mr Thorp. However, there is provision for appeal to the Public Service Appeal Board. Mr Thorp said the two “were scapegoats for more senior staff who must share the responsibility for the graffiti.” He said he hoped the explanation tendered by the two apprentices would be accepted and that the Government Printer and the State Services Commission would see the incident “in the light that everyone else does.” “It was rather an amusing incident and not harmful in any way,” Mr Thorp said. “It is unfortunate they pick-; ed on these two when more! senior staff were ultimately responsible. “Apprentices are supposed to be continually supervised by qualified tradesmen,” he! said. “The two apprentices'

concerned were not supervised at the time of their! misdemeanour. “The number of tradesmen) supposed to be supervising) at the Government Printing! Office is much smaller than; usual in training establish-! merits of that size and that! is probably one of the reasons the incident happened.] That is the Government; Printer’s responsibility." ) The Government Printer) (Mr E. C. Keating) said the! two youths had put forward an explanation which was) now being considered. “The whole thing is sub; judice until a decision is] made. It would be wrong for) me to comment,” Mr Keat-I ing said.