PRINTING OFFICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 122, 19 November 1937, Page 11

PRINTING OFFICE

OVERTIME PAYMENTS

"LAVISH AND WASTEFUL"

The doubling of the vote for overtime and meal allowances for the Printing and Stationery Department, was questioned when the Estimates for the Department were considered by Parliament this morning.

Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (National, Riccarton) said the Government had claimed that it would do away with overtime by putting other workers into employment, but the £3000 vote last year had been increased to £6000, That £6000 would provide employment for a number of workers; in fact, he believed it would provide for' the training of about fifty young men as printers. If there was no need for overtime in" private industry there should not be need tot overtime in the State offices, but the overtime that was being paid was lavish and wasteful.

Mr. C. H. Chapman (Qoverriment, Wellington North) said that overtime payments were unavoidable because there was no room"in the Government Printing Office to accommodate more workers. In addition to that the depression had led to fewer printers being trained, and more men -were not available.

The Minister in Charge of the Department (the Hon. P. C. Webb) said that the office had employed an additional 130 hands, and the value of the work done had increased by £36,000. It was absolutely impossible to employ more workers in the present building as it was already badly overcrowded. Even if they had room for more hands they would not be able to secure them because there were no competent printers but of employment. As members knew, the Government had determined to build a new office because the present building was out of date, dilapidated, and overcrowded everywhere. The plans of the new building were well under way, and he hoped it would be started next'year. There was not sufficient room on the present site for the new building, which, when completed, would be sufficient for all present requirements and for future expansion.