THE RAILWAY CUT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12753, 24 September 1919, Page 8

THE RAILWAY CUT.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS. [Psn Press Association.] "WELLINGTON. September 24. Ernest W. Gillon, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Railways, examined by the Railway Commission to-day, said he was of opinion that the information' in the railway statement regarding the rolling stocK was true- He concurred with the finding ot the previous commission relative to the rolling stock. He considered, now, that the rolling stock was in a safe and efficient condition, and that all conditions to safeguard its efficiency had been maintained. The workshops were in an efficient state, and the Department was better off now than in 1910- With regard to engine power and carriages the Department had now 620 engines, against 555 in 1916. and carriages had been increased by the capacity of 2864 passengers, and wagons by 9381 tons carrying capacity. Two kinds of coal were used—the hard coal for the fast passenger service came from the West Coast and Newcastle, and supplies of coal were obtained from Japan, America and South Africa. He thought that 80,000 tons of l ard coal should be held for both islands. He knew of no reup for want of stocks, the Department had been able to obtain ail supplies required. There were about fifty fitters short "throughout the country, but the Department was well off lor blacksmiths and boiler-makers, r i ] fl )a ' r ' vor k was held up from want of labour. The supply of drivers and firemen was improving every day. a shortage of cleaners. Iho Department used as much brown coal as it could get but there would be better results if the Department could get Newcastle coal entirely. With normal running the average weeklv consumption of coal was 5000 tons of haid coal and about 2000 tons of brown coai.-. Thus, the reserve stocks should provide for about eleven or twelve weeks’ running. Continuing his evidence, Mr Gillon stated that the rolling stock was as good now, if not better, than before the var. The Government called for tenders at the end of the year for coal but some mines refused to tender. Tho Government refused to supply the mines with waggons if they could not supply it with coal. Newcstle coal was preferred to Westport. There was leaser production of power from brown coal, and then there was the danger of using in the summer months. The engine newer to-day was by much in excess of anything required’. No advice or reports had been received from officials to the inefficiency of the rolling stock. In all the workshops there had been, sufficient staff to do all necessary repairs. Brown coal was not generally used alone.. Hard coal if used throughout the service would certainly tend to greater efficiency and economy. The number of engines, carriages and waggons under repair in the winter months was, under normal conditions, greater than in the summer months. There had been no written or verbal instructions since July 2 to pass as many vehicles through the shops as possible. Matters had just gone on in the normal way.

Sidney Pepeival Evans, locomotive engineer, Auckland, said there had been a fair number of drivers and firemen leaving the service, but he could not say if the proportion was larger than formerly. Some of those leaving were older men, and some wore the younger men, the reason given being that there were better openings out side the service. At the same time there were quite sufficient drivers, firemen and mechanics, generally, to carry on the service.