I.—9a.

64

[h. carter.

58. What do you think is the average number of men promoted in the year ?—I could not say 59. You stated that you saw a barn hand altering a report after it was put in by a motorman ?—Yes. 60. Is there any punishment in the rules or by-laws for that?— No. 61 Would you know him again if you saw him? —Yes. 62 Do you think you could get his name for the Committee? —I think so, if I went back again. There are many there whose names Ido not know The man drew my attention to it when he did it. 63. You are perfectly sure of the fact?— Yes, I am perfectly sure of that. 64. And you think you would know the man again ?—Yes. 65. Was it one of your own reports?— No. 66. Do you know the man who made the report?— No. I do not remember the details of the case at all. 67 Do you think you could trace or follow it up so as to give us the barn hand's name?—lt would be rather a hard thing to do, but I could try I would have to get access to the papers. 68. Is it long ago?—No, it is since I have been out of the hospital. 69. That evidence so far is valueless, and you are really casting a doubt on your own evidence; you know that? —Yes. 70. Mr Poole.] How long did you say you had been employed on the Auckland tramways? — Seven years and ten months. 71 Have you had any reports made against you during that time? —Nothing against my workmanship or character 72. Have you ever been offered promotion in the company?—On several occasions. 73. Why did you refuse? —For the same reason that I would not prosecute my claim for compensation. 74. You do not work on Sundays, I believe? —I do not work on Sunday, and the methods adopted by the company would not suit me. 75. How were matters before the strike? —Bad. 76. Have matters improved of late? —They have improved during the last two or three years. 77 Do you consider the agitation of that period has had anything to do with the improvements that have taken place in the company? —Yes, it was the first strike that brought about the first improvement. Mr Carey was dismissed through that. 78 Who were the first people who discovered that the equipment of the cars was inadequate? —The employees and the Coroner's jury 79 Did you as an employee agree with the finding of the first Commission? —No, it was opposed to my evidence. lam a stout supporter of the air braise. 80. Did that Commission recommend a new type of brake, and glass fronts to the cars? — They recommended the institution of the magnetic brake and glass fronts. 81. How long after the recommendation of the Commission was made was it that the first glass front was fitted to an Auckland car? —I could not state definitely, but it was a considerable time. 82. Would it be over a year? —I think so. 83. Were those glass fronts necessary in connection with the cars?— Yes. 84. And have they finished the glass fronts to the cars at present in commission? —No, not yet. 85. How many are left? —I could not say The majority are fitted. 86! Were many of the men suffering as a result of exposure to the rain? —Yes, and there were many cases of illness. 87 What was the chief complaint? —Rupture, and chest, and lung, and throat complaints. 88. Do you get the same amount of suffering to-day?—No, there is a distinct improvement, and it has transformed the work of the motormen. 89. Do you think the glass fronts minimize the efficiency of the motorman ?—I think they help the work of the motorman. 90 In wet weather is it a difficult matter to see the road ahead?—No, you can see just as well now It is better to have a glass front than to be without one, particularly in dusty or wet 91 What do you think was the chief protest against glass fronts to the cars? —Expense, and ignorance on the part of the management. 92. Did the fitting of the glass fronts necessitate reconstruction of the platforms on all the cars?— Yes, they had to extend them on those that were in the service, but not on the new ones. 93. What is the general state of the brakes to-day?—The upkeep is improving, but the brakes remain the same as in the old days. They are obsolete. _ .„.,,, 94. In connection with the proposed car-book we have to deal with in this Bill You favour the depot volume, where the men report after their day's work? —Yes. 95 It has been stated that it is necessary to have the loose leaf, so that they can be handed round for the purpose of scrutiny, repairs, and so on : would you be in favour of a duplicate book, where with a carbon sheet, you could have your original entry and a copy?—lf it were essential, but I'do not believe that that is correct, to start with. I think any repairs or defects booked against a car can be seen by the man going on. It is not necessary to pass the volume round from one to the other ..■..« 96 We have it in evidence that it is sometimes necessary to have the volume at dinerent cardepots •Do you think a duplicate under those circumtsances would be desirable?— They could have a duplicate leaf; but what is asked for here is the same as they have in Sydney, and the book there