[h. caetee.

66

I.—9a.

134. In reference to the glass fronts, are you aware that the recommendation of the first Brakes Commission has not yet been completely carried out?— Yes. 111. fronts on any deckers. No they are open-fronted^ 137 Do you see any difficulty in fitting glass fronts on those deckers ?-No, no difficulty from a mechanical standpoint. 138 Have you seen that the Wellington deckers are fitted with glass fronts?— Yes 139' And do they meet with the requirements of the traffic, in your opinion?— Yes. _ 140 Are you aware that the union asked the management why the glass fronts were not being proceeded with, and that they gave as a reason that they were short of timber j—Yes. lhe first reason was that it was impossible to do so. T4I Can you realize that in a province like Auckland they would be short of timber for the glass fronts ?—No, I do not believe it. . ° 142. With regard to motormen's seats, do you remember, when the award was given, that the motormen were to have seats? —Yes. 143 Do you remember how long it took to fit eighty cars with those seats?—l could not give the exact time, but I know the company had to be threatened with a prosecution for breach of the award before they gave the seats. 144. Was there any great difficulty with regard to those seats?—No, it was downright obstinacy , n , . ~ • , 145 Eon Mr B McKenzie ] What is the extreme speed you have to run at in the sixteen minutes allowed for the Heme Bay section to keep your time-table ?—The car is allowed to run pretty well as it will on some of the down grades, and we allowed the car in the test with the first Brakes Commission to do what I have seen done repeatedly, and attain a speed of 40' 1 miles down College Hill. . .. . 146 So in the ordinary run on this line it is necessary for you to go forty miles an hour on a portion of the run ?—I go the maximum. In my evidence I said one is governed by the conditions that prevail For instance, if a drizzly rain is on, it may take a considerable time to go down a greasy rail if the sand is not working properly Then we should have to make up that time on other portions of the road. We simply drive as fast as we can. 147 If you have a crowded car it will take more time for the passengers to get ott and on I— Yes ' 148. And you have to make up for it between the stops?— Yes, we have to keep our time-table. 149 What average would it take for each stop—thirty seconds?—lt would not average half a minute for each stop. Some stops would be a few seconds. At the principal terminus it would be generally two minutes, and sometimes four minutes. 150. Would you consider twenty seconds a fair average for a stop?—l would hardly venture on that without very mature consideration. 151 Mr T E Taylor} Is there any standing-time allowed on that Heme Bay run ?—We have no standing-time on any run in the service. We drive from the time we get on to the time we stop.

CHRISTCHURCH EVIDENCE Wedneshay, 7th September, 1910. Herbert Pearce examined. (No. G ) 1. Mr T Young} You are Chairman of the Christchurch Tramway Board? —Yes. 2 That Tramway Board is elected by the citizens? —By the ratepayers, on the municipal franchise. 3 What district does it represent ?—Christchurch and the surrounding districts. 4. The City of Christchurch and various other boroughs ?—Yes. 5. And you are constituted under a special Act known as the Christchurch Tramway Act, 1906? —That is so. 6. There are nine members of the Board elected, and I think you hold office for three years? Yes. 7 And then the ratepayers have another opportunity of electing a Board ?—Yes. 8. So that you are directly in touch with the public every three years?— That is so. 9. You are not controlled in any way by the Christchurch City Council? —No. 10. Is the Board a satisfactory one for managing the tramways? —I think so. So far it has given satisfaction to the people of Christchurch and the surrounding districts. 11 I think the report of the Brakes Commission says that there was no fault to find with your management ? —Yes. 12. You have seen the Tramways Bill for 1910?— Yes. 13. In the evidence you are about to give I understand you are in agreement with the rest of the Board? —I may say the Board is unanimous. 14. You mean on questions of policy? —Yes. 15 And you have discussed the matter with Mr Booth, who is also here to give evidence, and with Mr Thompson?— Yes. 16 What do you say as to the policy of the Bill generally? —Well, the Board objects to the policy of the Bill. 17 Tell us why?—We consider the Bill is too wide, and divides control. It is a Board elected by the ratepayers.