WELLINGTON NEWS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 18, 16 May 1896, Page 2

WELLINGTON NEWS.

THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTEB

ROBBERY. TWO BOYS ARRESTED. [Special to Standard.] I Hi/ Tvlcftraph—Otrn < 'un-cqiunilt nt. j Wellington, This day. A deputation from the employes of the Government Printing Office waited on the Hon. Mr ILul-Jones yesterday in the interests of the three men recently discharged, and to present a petition to the Cabinet through the Minister on their behalf. The petition ; if was said, -was signed by 138 out of 170. The discharged men wore appointed a committee by the companionship to inquire into certain matters in connection with the office. They were promised protection unless the charges were found to be frivolous, and the companionship held themselves responsible for the position held by these men. The Minister in reply said he was not going into the report of the Commissioners, but he would say this much, that there wore forty-three charges made under sixteen different headings. Ten of these were abandoned, thirty were not sustained, and the three remaining charges, all of an

unimportant nature, were only partially proved. That meant that tlio -whole expense of that Commission had been incurred for the purpose of ascertaining' whether those three charges had been proved 011 not. The Commissioners were unanimous, and the facts disclosed that a most undesirable state of affairs had existed in the office, which must not be allowed to exist as it was subversive of discipline, which must bo maintained. 'When the report was published lie was sure they would say he had taken the right course. He would, however, lay the matter before Cabinet. ilr T. Young, solicitor, had his premises broken into and £56 stolen. Three weeks ago a bunch of office keys was lost, and yesterday morning it was found in the door. The premises had been opened by means of the proper key, which was left in the lock still attached to the bunch of keys which had been lost. Yesterday Detective Campbell arrested Walter C'athro and Frederick Need ham, two office boys in connection with the affair.