A SERIOUS CHARGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17606, 23 October 1931, Page 9

A SERIOUS CHARGE

#j|§TJLUOTION of tools

SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY 1 'VQ'I I‘r- V‘,' A 1 • • ■ ’• ■' ' (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. In the House of Representatives today, Mr; E. F. IJealy asked whether the Government's attention had been drawn to 'the reported wastage and destruction Of tools and gear at Waipapb Point as a result of the stoppage of work on the South Island Main Trunk line. He said a sin'gle mail had reported to the Marlborough Express that he had been paid off Mong with other men. Their tools had Wen ‘collected in a heap and formally written off the departments books. Handles had been sawn off and sent away to be used as.-lire wood, While an Bft. hole had been dug, and in it the inetkl parts had been solemnly buried". , hit. Heaiy said it had been stated that many of the tools were in first class order, and that action of this nature was not an unusual occurrence in dohnectiofi with public works. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates said lie had initiated inquiries regarding this matter, ■buft they Were not yet completed. It amounted to a serious charge, and while he did not desire to express an opinion in advance, hiS own experience of the department led him to think that the report would turn out to be highly colored at least.