ADDINGTON INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 451, 9 March 1909, Page 6

ADDINGTON INQUIRY.

ITS SCOPE. STATEMENT BY THE HON. J. A. MILLAR, [or TEiEOiurii—ruEss assocutiok.j Tlmaru, March 8. The Hon. J. A. Millar has handed tho following to tho Press Association for circulation through tho Dominion regarding tho Addington Workshops inquiry:— Tho scopo of your inquiry will cover the following points:— (1) Tho efficiency of tho plant and appliances. (-') Tho system of work adopted. (3) Tho discipline maintained. (4) Tho cost of production as compared with tho cost in other establishments whether Government or private. (o) 'J'ho output, whether it is reasonable in quantity and quality having regard to all the circumstances. (6) Generally any matter calling for alteration or improvement in the interests of efficiency or discipline. Professor Scott will act as chairman, of tho board. Your inquiries will bo conducted in public, and in tho courso of them you will niako such personal inspection and call such evidence as you think fit; but you will not allow solicitors or representatives'of any person, or call on persons to appear before you without iny previous written authority. All members of the Railway Department are enjoined to give you all tho information and assistance in , their power. You will conduct your inquiries in the aforesaid shops and elsewhere as you think fit, and report to mo tho result, with your i ■■- commendations and tho reasons on whkj tho same are based not later than the thirty-first day of March, 1909.

REPRESENTATION FOR THE MEN. Christchurch, March 8. A meeting of tlio employees of Addington, workshops was held at noon to-day. The chairman, stated that the meeting had been, called, ifl consider tho advisability of proceeding further in attempting to procure representation for tho men boforo tho inqniry. According to tho "Press" of this morning, the Minister was agreeable to tho general secretary of tho A.S.R.S, appearing on behalf of the men, or any other railwayman tho executive 'nominated. Therefore, it was now open for someono to move in, any direction deemed advisabloj tho executive being quite willing to nominate anyono whom the meeting decided to elect in accordanco with tho Minister's statement. Tho following resolution was proposed:— "That this meeting of Addingtou workshops employees still adheres to tho request for an outsido representative to bo allowed to appear before tho Commission of Inquiry on their behalf, and in this connection herewith submits the name of Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.l'., as being a suitable person to represent them, and that this resolution bo handed to Mr. Mack to forward to tho Minister." This was duly seconded, and after a short discussion, during which tho mooting was assured by one of tho speakers that Mr. Taylor was willing to act, the motion was put to tho meeting and carried by a large majority.

SOME TELEGRAMS. CDI TELEGRAPH—TUESS ASSOCIATION.! Tlmaru, March 8. Tho Hon. J. A'. Millar has handed the following to tho Press Association:— The following telegrams have passed between tho general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (who is now in Christcburch), the chairman of the workshops employees at Addington, and tho Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Railways, in connection with the Board of Inquiry regarding tho Addington workshops:— "To the Hon. J. A. Millar,— ■ "Evidently some' 'iijisunderstandiog. Mr. Ell informs mo you Saro. willing to allow any railway men to appear on behalf of tho men at Addington inquiry. If this is so, kindly advise mo early and'l will'submit tho name of the meinbor when selected for your approval. Wo liaro never been advised that any members outsido of tho Executive could appear:— M. J. Mack." x "As I informed you in. my reply to your telegram, I would havo been quite prepared to accept any member of the Executive, any member of the railway service, but tho men. at Addingtou have advised me that as they had no voice in tho appointment of tho commission, and bad also been restricted in. their choice of a representative, the declined to recognise the inquiry in any way. Undor thoso circumstances there was no necessity to go any further inutile matter, and'l so informed them, stating: that tho enquiry would havo to go on without their representation. I am quito prepared to accept any member of tho Executive or any member .of tho railway service to represent the men, and, if you submit mo tho nanio of tho man you desire, being a railway employee, I shall bo very pleased to forward his name to tho commission, and advise- tho board that such person is authorised to watch tho caso on behalf of tho men of tho workshops.— J. A. Millar." "The men at Addington met at lunch-ijme to-day, and carried the following resolution, and requested mo to convey the sanio to you: 'That this meeting of Addington workshop employees still adheres to the request for an outsido representative to bo allowed to appear boforo tho Commission of Inquiry on their behalf, and in this connection herewith submits tho name of Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P., as being a suitable person to represent them.'—M. J. Mack."' "I havo already stated that I would only accept a representative of the men, ono of the executive of tbo A.S.R.S., or any railway employee. It is needless for me, therefore, to say that I do not consent to Mr, Taylor, or any other member of Parliament, or anyono else, outsido of tho A.S.R.S. Union, appearing on behalf of the men at tho inquiry. It is an inquiry of practical men into certain statements, and can only bo dealt with by practical men. In other words, it is an inquiry set up by myself consisting of experts outsido of tho railway service to advise me in regard to certain allegations which have been made. The whole object ia to ascertain whether tho work is done efficiently and economically in tlio Addington Workshops, and I think I havo offered tho men at Addington a wide range of selection, and tho wholo of tho railway service is open to them, including tho executive of their union, who conduct all their business, technical and othorivise, As tlio men havo doclined the offer made, and whilst regretting their decision, I have nothing further to say than that tho inquiry will proceed as appointed.—J. A. Millar."