ADDINGTON WORKSHOPS ENQUIRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7824, 17 June 1909, Page 4

ADDINGTON WORKSHOPS ENQUIRY.

Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, June 16. The report of the Board of Enquiry into the Aldington railway workships was laid on the table of the House today. It stated that the Board had carefully considered the evidence given at the enquiry. To sum up the result of the enquiry the Board is of the opinion that # the work at. Aldington had not been done as economically as it might have been. The appliances we're suitable for carrying on repair w.jrk, but required additions to render them efficient for manufacturing purposes. The system of work was faulty, owing to the combination of repair with new work. The discipline maintained at present was creditable, both to the officers and workers, but the system of classification would dishearten any class of employees. If the Department determined to continue manufacturing locomotives, the Board was of the opinion that either the additional appliances should be installed at Addington or a newl manufacturing shop should be built on a section distinct from the repair section, or an independent general railway manufacturing shop should bo set up in a suitable locality. Failing one of these courses of action contracts should, in future, be let to privato firms for all locomotives required. The General Manager of Railways, in a lengthy memorandum attached to the report, explains the position as regards the railway workshops. These were originally intended as repair shops and when the business of the country began to expand in 1895 it was found that there was insufficient rolling stock to meet tho requirements and orders wcro placed for a- largo number of waggons, carriages and locomotives in England and America. Tho Government decided to supplement these by building at its own workshops. This course was .adopted as obviating the erection of a manufacturing shop and tho wisdom of this course was now apparent, as the quantity of rolling stock turned out of the workshops during the last nine years has placed the Department in a position to meet all the demands of traffic, and tho manager docs not anticipate that air- large additions to the rolling stock will be necessary. He considers that the establishment of a separate manufacturing shop is unwarranted. The manager reviews statements of the Board regarding plant and appliances, and gives details connected therewith; also proposals for improvements. He recognised that the. motive power arrangements were not up-to-date, but believes that the matter resolves, iself into a question of sspkadrtwr*.