YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14473, 16 March 1909, Page 5

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

FURTHER TECHNICAL EVIDENCE.

(Per United Press Association.)

CHRISTCHOROH, March 15. The Addington inquiry being resumed, Jlr Honderson, foreman of the boiler shop, stated that the workshop rollers were not strong enough, The heaviest- .plates that could bo rolled at Addington were those 4 ln thick, and then two plates could be rolled in 4J horn's. Sometimes four machines were worked from one accumulator, t which was originally obtained for tho riveter alone, but it "had been used for more work' since. Ho had not officially drawn tho manager's attention to the flanging machine, l;ut tho matter had boon spoken about. I'r.e shop had been working at a. disadvantages with the present machinery, but ho had not. complained about it. .

John Speflecr Clarke, foreman fitter, said he had bcon in ail the large shops in the colony, and the discipline at Addington was as good as at any other shop lie had been in. He bad not seen any loafing or idling at Addington. Tho plan!, at the neiv locomotive building worked satisfactorily as far as it went, but tetter lifting facilities were required. William 11. Cole, foreman blacksmith at Addington, said ho served his apprenticeship at the Ashford works ,of ithe South Eastern Railway Company, and also had experience in New Zealand beforo joining the GovexnmenJ; shops. His staff of smiths at Addington was the finest staff in Now Zealand. Ho had also a good staff in the forge department. Tho output of work now was much more up-to-date than it ever was before. To Mr Hampton : One of his men (May) had brought out an improved idea for points and crossings-work, but had received no extra recompense from he department. John Barbour, foreman of the moulding shop at Addington, said ho had been at Addington for nearly seven years, ami had previously been at Petone, and in private works in New Zealand and Australia. Tho plant at Addington was as good as the plant in any of the other jobbing shops whero ho had, worked, and in many cases much better. Tho output was mutfh liottor than in many othor place*. The work at Addington was of a very intricate c - ha.raoter more so thaai in other shops. Tho workshop practaco a£..\ddington was far superior 'to that in many, of tho American shops. Ho was satisfied with bis staff, and had no difficulty in maintaining discipline. To the President; A pneumatic lift was required for tho moulding shop, also an hydraulic ring breaker, but the latter was now being conducted. There was no casting ait the works, and » heavy piece of work had tp bo sunk into the ground as far as possible.

Robert D. M'Ewan, a turner at Addington, said he had previously worked on tho Clyde, and could say that" the men on tho Clvdo worked harder - than at Aldington. That WU3 the result- of the bonus system entirely. Turners at Addington were quit© ou a pa-r with the Ciydo men, but the quality of the work oji the Oydo was falling rapidly, - as a result of ihc bonua system. The quality of tho work a.-t Addington was better than that turned out at the Clyde. r lo Mr Niven: The bonus system followed tho big strike, and was upon giving tho men a lituo more for incroasod effort. The men, however, had not time to do the work properly iu the lame, cocseqiiGntW tho ivoxk had to 1m warnpwi, Tho in-

created wages under the litmus system amounted to front 5.s to 8s weekly tip standard wage boing 36s weekly, ' To Mr Hampton': Apart from the appliances, the ineii at Addington wore as good as the men at th© Civile before tho iiitro* durt'ion of t,ho bonus system. George Butt, [oremii.ii fitter, and D. .1. Brown, in charge of the painting tarpaulin department, were eatislied with their respective staffs. Creol'go I'xlward Richarikon, workshop* manager at Addington, said lie had lic-n 25;. years in the service, and had keen 15 months at Addington. He had also been workshops manager of other workshops. Two permits had been issued to Mr •'eukilhon during the las.t twelve months, ono en November 12, during carnival week, and ono on November 16, immediately after the holidays. Mr Jenbintsou.never spoke to him on either of the visits. Witness had not seen idling as a ge.nen\] thing in any shop at Addington. The staff at Addington generally was most efficient. If tho cranes in tho erecting shop were electrified thev would bo wed more. A new shop should be erected for the construction of new locomotives. Ho had found no difficulty m niamtaing discipline at Addington. Tllfl plant, at the shops to generally efficient, but more high speed steel lathes wero wanted, also improved lifting gear. The work was laid out in tho best possiblo way to got it through in the shorted time, and the least cost. Considerable improvements had been made in the points and crossings shops since he had been at Addington, and the output had been materially increased awl tho cost reduced. The last three of tho Addington _ engines wero similar to tihoso built by Price Eros. The 'net cost, including Wtetinghouse brakes Mid painting was £+310, whereas the contractors' prieo yraa £3998, to which " had to bo added £210 for tho brake and £20 for painting, making a total of £4228. Six of th© W Y engines had been built at Hillside, but Addington , had supplied some (parts. At this slago it'ilio inquiry was adjourned.