GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1264, 21 May 1896, Page 32

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

The resignation of the Government Printer (Mr S. Costall) has been sent in to the Government, and took effect on tho ISth inst. The reason for his retirement is not made public, but it is not, wo understand, the outcome of the enquiry recently held into certain charges made against him.

It is worthy of mention that at the commencement of the enquiry it, was contended that under the Civil Service Act of 1 Slit! the enquiry ought to have been belli before a Civil Service Board. Tho Commissioners, however, pointed out that that was a matter that did not concern them, and that they had simply to carry out their duties as specified under their Commission. It is claimed that Mr Costall is still entitled to havo an enquiry into any charges against him made by a Civil Service Board as provided by tho Civil Service Act. THE MEETING OF THE EMPLOYEES. A meeting of the employees of the Government Printing Office was held last week in the Exchange Buildings to consider what steps should be taken in reference t o t he dismissal of Messrs Carson, McNamara and Jenkins. The representatives of the press were not admitted, and it was also decided at the meeting that tho decision arrived at should not lie made public.

A deputation from the employees of the Government Printing Office, consisting of Messrs 11. C. Jones, W. P. McGirr, A. Osborne, A. Vere, J. Phillips, Qyton and I. Hughes, waited on tho Hon W. llallJones on Friday afternoon to ask for clemency for the three men—Carson, McNamara and Jenkins—who havo recently boen discharged from the office, and also to petition the Cabinet, through tho Minister, on their behalf.

The petition, it was pointed out, had been spontaneously signed by 138 out of 17<) einphe ees, both men and women and exclusive of boys. These three men were aep linted a committee by the companionship to enquire into certain matters iu connect mi! v. it.li the office; they were promised protection, unless the charges were found to be frivolous, by Sir Patrick Buckley, and the companionship held themselves responsible for tho position occupied by these men, and they thought it was very hard that tho men should bo sacrificed for tho companionship’s sake. Tho Minister, iu reply, said ho was not going into tho report of the Commissioners, but ho would say this much, that there were 43 charges made, under 10 different headings; 10 of these charges were abandoned, 30 were not sustained, and the three remaining charges, all of an unimportant nature, were only partially proved. That meant that tho whole expense of that Commission had been incurred for tho purpose of ascertaining whether thoso throo charges bad been proved or not. The Commissioners were unanimous, and tho 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, and while he had control discipline should bo maintained. When the report was published lie was sure they would say he had taken tho right courso. Ho would, however, lay the matter before Cabinet,