AUCKLAND TRAM BRAKES. MARRIED MEN AND STRIKES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 3

AUCKLAND TRAM BRAKES.

MARRIED MEN AND STRIKES.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. (Faost Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, April 19. A striking feature of the inquiry now being conducted in Auckland in connection with the braking, equipment on the tramcars is the unanimity that prevails between the company and the union, especially when contrasted with' the feeling, existing at the time the previous commission sat. This fact was commented on by Mr Arthur Rosser at yesterday’s sittings, when he remarked that at no time since the inauguration of the service had the relations between the company and the men been so cordial. In regard to the improvement of the braking sys-. tern, there is no quarrel between the company and the employees. The union ii arguing, as it has all along urged, foi a more effective brake than the hand system in vogue, and one which does not entail the same amount of physical strain. The National air brake is regarded as the most efficient and certainly the most effective, when combined with the track brake at present used. The company ia prepared to immediately instal these type* of brake, but the previous commission, decided in favour of a magnetic brake,, and that is just where the present trouble has arisen. The evidence that has so far been brought before the com* mission has been in the direction of es? tablishing the advantages of the ail brake as against the magnetic brake, which is looked upon as solely an emen gency brake and must be used in conjunct tion with a hand brake for service stops-.. The company intends to call further wit* nesses to give testimony in the same direction, and later the commission will sit at Wellington and Christchurch. Mr Rosser will follow up the commission and present evidence to the other centres. He took occasion at the sitting yesterday to express the union’s appreciation of th© company’s action in arranging for the at. tendance of the men to give evidence when required.