60

[h. cabteb.

I.—9a.

274. Do you think that the question of safety of the citizens cannot be left to the citizens themselves? Do you not think they are the best able to safeguard their own safety with regard to life and limb? —They do not know whether a oar is properly geared. 275 Would your difficulty be got over if they had experts to guide them? The Government are going to delegate this inspection to some one under the Bill? —Yes. 276. Supposing the Council delegated this duty to some competent men, would your difficulty be got over then? —If they acted on his advice it would be all right, but they always act on their own advice. 277 But the Minister does not always act on his officers' advice? —That is so. He would be guided by the local bodies, 1 suppose. 278. On the question of the convenience of the public would not the local body be the best judges? —They would be a help. 279. Would they not be in a better position to do so than the Minister? —Taking what has transpired in the past as a criterion, in Auckland they are not the best judges. 280. Of course, the motorman with experience would be a valuable ally to the controlling authority by way of advice and information? —I do not think it would be necessary They are in a department of their own. They do not deal with that at all. 281 Do you not think the controlling authority might consult with the motormen as to the department of which the motormen have control? —They have no control except to drive a car 282. Do you not think that if you were consulted you could give the Auckland Tramway Company a great deal of assistance?—l do so. 283. Your views are open to them whenever they require them?— Yes. 284. They have the benefit of your advice? —Yes, when they require it. 285. Yours must be expert advice? —Yes, in my particular line. 286. And I suppose they have the advantage of the advice of other particular men in every department?—l expect they do, but I cannot say 287 What more expert advice do you think they need? —A motorman has no say as regards matters of an important character, such as the licensing of cars, report-books, appeal boards, or anything of that kind. 288. When they want advice are there not some of the officers of the department who can advise them? —Yes, they are paid by the company 289. Take any question which might be referred to you, would you not have to give the best advice you could? —Yes. 290. Then the company has the benefit in each of its departments of expert advice? —1 suppose they have. 291 And your knowledge of your department would be better than the knowledge of a Government inspector in your department?—He may embrace all the knowledge I have. He would have to be expert in the position he occupies. 292. He could not be expert in every department, could he?—l do not know 293 You know that the Wellington City Council give prizes to their men for valuable suggestions? —I have heard that. 294. That shows they are looking for up-to-date ideas? —Yes. 295. And the Christchurch Board does the same?—l did not know the Christchurch Board did so. * 296 Have you any reason to suppose that the controlling authorities are not doing the best they can for the public? —They may do the best they can as human beings, and with laymen's experience, in mixing things up. 297 Is the Minister not just as liable to err as the local body?— No. 298. Why? —Because he is not pecuniarily interested, and influenced by votes. 299 Eon. Mr: B McKenzie.] Mr O'Shea wanted you to believe that the Government had the power of inspection after construction as it has after an accident: is that so?—I understand the inspection of the Government is confined to the cars when being put into traffic for the first time, and after if an accident occurred. I was told that. 300. Did not Mr O'Shea ask you whether that was a legal opinion?— Yes, and I said " No.' 301 You have a number of lawyers in Auckland? —Yes. 302. And if you go to one he will give you a legal opinion? —Yes. 303. And if you go to another he will give you a precisely opposite one? —Very likely 304. If you go to ten lawyers in Auckland they will not all agree?— There is great diversity in their opinions. 305. Do you attach any importance to legal opinions? —I do sometimes. 306. You said there were four fatal accidents on College Hill?— Two were killed in Victoria Street, two on College Hill, and I helped to take a man out from under the life-guard, but he was not fatally injured. 307 Would you say that was due to a deficiency of the brake? —I would say the braking was not sufficient, and the speed was too high that the cars have to travel at. 308. Did you read the report of the last Brakes Commission? —Not the whole of it, portion of it. 309 Do you think the present brakes in Auckland are satisfactory? —No. 310. Would you mind looking at page 3 of the report of the Commission, and read the paragraph headed " Car weighed "?—" In order that the mass dealt with might be accurately known, the Commissioners had decided not to accept manufacturers' weights, but to accurately weigh all cars experimented on; and on car No. 75 being placed on the scales it was found to weigh no less than 42 per cent, in excess of the previously stated weight."