RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 19 June 1909, Page 6

RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.

THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF? INQUIRY. ; PRESS OPINIONS. CBj Telcffrapli.--Spoclnl Correspondent) / Ghrlitchurch, June 18. Regarding the report of the Board of Inquiry on the Addington Railway Workshops, the "Press" remarks that its'value extends far boyond the immediate field which the ljoird wao asked ,to investigate. It diows how reform is needed, not only in' the Addihgton Workshops, hat in our railway administration as a whole. It affords a' convincing reply to those who clamour for the "socialisation of our means of production," who' imagine ftat .thero'is some spccial magic about Government control which imparts some extraordinary virtue to State management, and who would have ub believe tiuat the "Government stroke" is in reality a' synonym for efficiency and economy. "If there is ono thing whridh the report Bhows beyond all question,says the -"Preas," "it is that Government control' of a manufacturing industry means laxity of management, unfair treatment of Government workmen, and wastefulness, and evtravagance in production. The way in which our railways are gradually drifts ing from bad to worse shows .that there is something radically wrong in

and that it is not oonfined .to Addington. . If:Mr:-'Millar .want* to make a genuine reform to: railway administrationChe should insist on the appointment of a really first-class expert as General Manager, and give'him a tolerably free hand." •

' Mr. R. Hanipdenj who. oonducrted tiie'inea's oaso before ttio Board of Inquiry, when inter- ■ viewed by a reporter, said, that he felt that "tfho report on tho whole ivas very fair as,fair aa tJie men were concerned.. Special'mtorest, ho thought, would be taken 'in the recommendation fiat Mi independent board shouldv be established to consider inventions brought out by, tho. men. There had been a longstanding grievance, in. that direction. 'Ho hoped that the Government would se6 its' way to effect to th© recommendation at the earliest opportunity.llio ; 'report was satisfactory on, account of ttio fact that it vindicated the men's character and their iflxility. ' The recommendation. in regard to the oreckion of new manufacturing shop waa tantamount to a declaration that the men with opportunities, and facilities wiild compete wito private enterprise. He had not sera.-the recomni<mdatioa in respect to increased powors for workshop managers, but he did nottfliink that the evidence; given at the inquiry would any alteration in that reject.

TV. annua] social of tilio Wellington Corporation employws, held in aid of the sick fnnd ; took place in.the Town Hall yesterday evening. 120 couples wore piVsSent, including,;the, Mayor and a°. number !of- city councillors ajid the late Mayor, the Hoii. T.. W. Hislop. - Messrs. ] IcxuLifen, Tippett,. and Hopbimracted as Jl.G;'s, and Mr. G. Jordan was secretary of.the committee.' The music was supplied by Miss Hawthorn,., • . ' An announcement appearing elsewhere states that, the partnership existing- between Aaron Samuels and George. William Gray (Wholesale Woollen Company, Willis . Street) has been dissolved. Jupp's Band will give a benefit performance i j- «ti 11 Park; to-morrow nftoinoon. I and will play the latest Harry Lauder songs. , ; Messrs. Cole and Weeterman, drapers, Manners Street, insert a number of sale "scatters" in this issue, which ' .should" command the