AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS,

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 251, 16 July 1908, Page 6

AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS,

EVIDENCE BEFORE THE SPECIAL ■ BOARD. A TICKET INSPECTOR EXAMINED. (BT TELEGBAPH,—SrECIAIi COBRESPONDBNTij; <" Auckland, July'is. . When tho Tramway Inquiry Board resumed this morning, Mr. Rossor asked permission to call a witness to substantiate somen Remarks of his (Mr. Rosser'fe) concerning;, certain charges against Mr. Morris. »..• This was granted, and Benjamin; Gay, formerly a conductor on . tho spare list m .the 'employ of tho. Company, entered the box arid said that on a certain Sunday ho was booked to tako a Kingsland run. He was'asljed to take a Romuora run in place of a 'man • who was siok. Witnoss received his waybill.ind tickets, whon anothor conductor, arrivod, and Mr.'Morris eavo tho latter tho. Romuera run, tolling-, witness-ho would havo to tako tho Homo Bay run. Witness Mr. Morris ho did not think it was fair, and ' <p . Mr. Morris then said to witness., "All-1 can see is that you aro refusing duty,, and I' don't think 'you'Mll'bo .required at the barn any more." On one occasion witness had a - single run -to Onehunga. and had a ss. shortago, which was more than he earned., .. Ho subsequently found he was booked up 'with fifty Id; tickets which ho never had. To Mr. Morris: Witness-was not signed on for tho Romuora run, but was given it and told to got his -block. Witness considered ho was dismissed when Mr. Morris told him ho would not bo required .any'more at the barn. - Witnoss had some trouble with Inspector Griffiths. : Tho latter struck him, and witness struck back. To Mr,- Walklate: It was,not a fact that ho left. Ho considered Iho • had been , discharged. ■ ; -- ; . ,Edwin -Ticklo, a ticlcot inspector in tho .Company's sorvico, said ho had worked for tho company for five years, eighteen months as conductor, threo years as motorman, and raven- months as inspector. Witness . had never received instructions to . check, timetables unobserved. Ho had never been,in- , struotod to pay particular attention to men, leaving the service. Ho-did not notify men that'he was reporting them .. except in. rare cases. Thoro was, a system-of signalling amongst the men,' and. witness, to circumvont that, had gone from-one part of.the town to another aoross country. He domed hiding to catch cars. - Hp had taken shelter when it was very wot in tho doorway of a house in. England' Street. He .denied turning in his coat to .hido tho buttons.- His coat was too small .across the chest, and ho would wrap it closely round him. ; Ho was- not ono of tho "hatloss brigado," but did somotimes tako Ins hat . off. ... Ho did not mako a practico of dodging round, telegraph poles. ■ Ho; did not- expose : himself moro than was necessary, and'did. not. step out into roads'untila car was coming,along. Ho never harassed _tlm men, nor, received any special instructions .-from.'Mr. Lysaght as to tho methods' ho should adopt. . • To Mr. Rossor: Ho • know there' was a system of signalling/and had used it himself as a conductor. Ho dropped it aftor the first few months, because he did not consider it worth tho trouble.,' Ho_ took :mi his stand, wherever it was convenient. \Vitnesa was on tho afternoon shift .at tho time of tho' 1906 striko.;. Witness loft his car. Mr. Rosscr: Do you regret having dono so ?_Witnoss: Havon't thought about it. Do you now think you did right?—r am .not ..tliinking about it, , - Dr. Jl'Arthur intimated t6 Mr. Rosser that lie was overstepping, tho bounds. / After questions by Mr. the. Board ; .then adjourned. This afternoon Peter M'_ El- an inspector in- tho Company s service, gavo evidence. , . ,'