RAILWAy WORKSHOPS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 422, 3 February 1909, Page 4

RAILWAy WORKSHOPS

have .tp thank you for'having: given such'prorainerice.inybur widely-read paper to' my letter' of:.January-22,' and riow bog for a littleYtether,/ space.' on. -the'. above • subject. During. the {past: few .days I have had r. the' opportunity "of .speaking to. some of the workshop{:h.ands .at.{Petene ; ■:who,/ I/findj-. are /in; elose- cbtnmunibation: with their, shoprnates in • other/centres/-.'They:all welcome, thel-fullest iriquifyV'but are much'dismayed on 'hearing that the'inquiry proposed by .the Hori.;.Mr.: Millar. is '■; to, be a' purely Departmental one;, and- that 'he/is; already' making /inquiries .'pri-. vately. 'I do riot-know who"'is acting in. the capacity" of detective -for -the'. Minister, ; ;buf ,' surely.if is' passing, stiange/that .the:Ministershould be' driven to Ysucl/a dourse" tp- find out what is'going ou ; in his Department.:;.-In referring in my last letter to this.subject, I applied. the' term ■'" bogu s'.' to. the Depart-' montal'inquiries in thepast. In.tho case ■sp'much'.interesting..the,"general public there are./as"l understand it;:two disfinit charges,'--one of the'workmen "loafing," a'nd.thV other', the "cost pf the,;finishcd articles'.-"-manufacT turcd' at Addirigtbri;'. Of .course,': it-must. be'! admitted that;the,former will affect the'-iat-./ ter,',b'nt not to 'anything like the''extent"as/| mistakesYand bungling in thoYdrawings' and 'other. ;'iiistru.qtions:{is,sncd : ' frbm'Y,. the .hpad office.:{I■;woiild.ask/you;/how 'could'a board' composed .'. of',: Departmental. officers, presumably, seleoted from the. Chief' Mechanical Engi-' rieer's,staff, hold any useful inqriiry irito'their' own'.'actions ;or - into'; the' 'conduct.' or {profes- ■ sional-:skill, of the' heads- of their-.Depart-ment; '■■ : Surely the.Hpn. .Mr. Millar'must:see{ how-absurd, .to/say: the-'least'of it, such an /inquiry.must bo,'and why.those'-attacked in the .original "circular—viz.,/ the; men/arid .the staff at for ; an'independent board:of ■ inquiry;' /-Failing- the appointment' of suchja"bbard,- : both : the meri and' the-staff-■atAddington should.be allowed to each ribmiT;: nateono 1 member of-tho board to be set up by the Hon,- Mr'..Millar.—!. - •.'■'; •■::> a: aaa' : . , YyEX-WOREMANY, -{