RAILWAY COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16459, 8 February 1917, Page 5

RAILWAY COMMISSION.

CONCLUDING SITTING. INSPECTION OF WAGGONS. The Royal Commission set up to inquire into the condition of the railway rolling stock concluded its sitting in Auckland yesterday. Professor J. R. Scott presided, and Mr. H. H. Jackson conducted the examination of witnesses on behalf of the Department. James Rogersori, workshops foreman at Whangarei, stated in his evidence that he was responsible for the maintenance of rolling stock on that section of the railways He had an efficient staff, and had neve: experienced a shortage of materials. During the 5.6 months he had been in his present, position he had not known of broken bearing springs. Draw bar springy sometimes broke on waggons, and a new spring, or one made from two pieces, was put in. Under cross-examination witness stated that his staff numbered —three carpenters, three lifters, and a smith. Only about five out of 400 waggons had pierced draw bar springs. He considered it desirable to use pieced draw bar springs, and he did not notice any difference in the utility of pieced and whole springs. He bad never received instructions to exercise greater economy, or to put in pieced springs. The members of the commission devoted the afternoon to an inspection of the undergcar of waggons in the Auckland station yaid. The commission will sit at Helensville to-day, and will proceed to Frankton Junction to-morrow.