ADDINGTON WORKSHOPS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13337, 1 February 1909, Page 8

ADDINGTON WORKSHOPS.

SUGGESTED ENQUIRY INTO GENERAL MANAGER'S METHODS.

In connection with tho trouble at tho Arlington workshops, Mr T. E. Taylor, M.P.. on Saturday sent tho following telegram to the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Railways:—"Whilst general satisfaction is expressed at your decision to hold a public instead of a departmental enquiry into Mr Ronayne's serious charges of dishonesty and incompetence of officials and worKmen at tho Addingtou railway workshops, it is urgently necessary and only just to those accused, that the General Manager's methods of control and administrative ability should also bo fully enquired into. Will the order ot reference be wide enourjh to permit of this being done?" Tile Hon. Mr Millar replied yesterday as follows:—"In reply to your telegram of yesterday, the- order of refer-, once oi proposed enquiry will be wide eiimigh u> niako the fullest enquiry into the system adopted in the workshops, hut it will not be a roving com-mis-ion to .go into all ami sundry matte rs <.{ administration. , ' To this Mr Tavlor replied aft follows: —'•Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Rnilways. Wellington.—A roving commission is not suggested, but seeing Mr Ronayiio Las entirely controlled railways for nearly twenty years, his as to dishonesty and incompetence cf officers am' men at A-.Wing-to h workshops impeaches his own administrative methods. If order of reforeiiee excludes him from .13 close a scrutiny as those he accuses are subject to. it will be most unjust. If Mr Ronr<7."iie's charges are a cover for some change in railway policy which seeks to convert railway workshops into repair shops o:ily, why not initiate such a change without impeaching hundreds of lnnn's skill and diameter? The order of reference will be o. parody on justice if Head-Office methods a re. not tho subject for strict investigation."