AN AUTOCRAT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 788, 11 April 1910, Page 8

AN AUTOCRAT.

HON. R. M'KENZIE ACAIN. SHOULD HIGH OFFICIALS BE DUMMIES? Much attention has been given to the action of Mr. R. M'Kenzie, Minister for Public Works, in over-riding the judgment of engineering experts in connection with tho North of Auckland railway route. Attention to his methods was renewed the other day when he stated that he had power to veto the decisions of Parliament in respect of public works votes. In view of these two incidents, tho following extract from the evidence taken by a committee of the House of Representatives on the Tramways Amendment .Bill last session will be of special interest: — . . ; Among the witnesses was Mr. R. W. Holmes, Engineer-in-Chief to the Public AVorks Department. He was 6ne of the members of a Royal Commission which inquired into the working of the Auckland ' tramway system about eighteen months ago. Among those who put questions to Mr. Holmes at a aitting of the committee on December 22 last year was the Hon. R. M'Kenzie. > Mr. M'Kenzie: There was a statement made here last, night, that you gave the engineer or. manager of the Auckland Tramway Company to understand that you disapproved of the. air brakes? ' ' . Mr. Holmes: L disapproved of the air brake as a substitute , for tho trackbrake. . '.','■ Mr. M'Kenzie: But you do not disapprove of it if they are combined? Mr. Holmes: I do not disapprove of the air as an additional means for.working the wheel-brake.

Mr. M'Kenzie: Do you know whether a letter was sent from the Department to the company, giving them an option of three brakes, which included the magnetic and the air brake? ,

Mr. Holmes: No, I do not think, so. The Department would not give them the option of using the air brake acting on the wheels only, instead of such a brake as the magnetic brake. ~ ■

Mr. M'Kenzie:. Do you know if they have applied to ■ the Department to.institute a system of brakes? , Mr. Holmes:, The only application we have'had. was to apply two sets of the Christerison brake as an experiment. Mr. M'Kenzie: But not to applyother sets of brakes, to. their cars? . Mr. Holmes: No. ' Mr. M'Koiizie: Do you. know, if the motormen in New Zealand prefer the. air brake : to the magnetic brake? Mr. Holmes: They are two totally different brakes j they are- not comparable with one another. • Mr. M'Kenzie: But in Auckland there are a large number of motormen who have been working on the air brake in Sydney and Melbourne, and have you ever had anything to do with the union or with the men themselves on the subject? ■.■■■'"..-.

Mr. Holmes: No, I have not. ' . . Mr. M'Kenzie: Supposing I were to appoint an eugineer to examine theso brakes—say, an engineer in Auckland— do you think any of our engineers would be likely to refuse to recommend it if the Department wanted to give'the company, the option of putting air brakes in? ■ '■■•.■ ; ■ ■ •■:'■• '..-

.Mr. "Holmes: I do not; know the views of my subordinates, but, of course, they would report to me, and I should be the final judge, and I should most decidedly object. ' Mr. M'Kenzie: .And supposing 1 canie in ind appointed an engineer to decide altogether; he would have the power to approve, would he not? Mr. Holmes: I presume so. x Mr. M'Kenzie: You are only nominated by the Minister to carry out what a Minister thinks proper? • Mr. Holmes: Yes, if within the provisions of the Tramways and Public Works-Acts.' ' ■ -■,'■':■ Mr. M'Kenzie: And if the Minister thinks the air brake is as good a system as any other brake he could ask another engineer decide? Mr. Holmes! Yes, he has-that power. Mr. M'Kenzie: had no power to give the management of the Auckland Tramway Company to understand in any shape or,form that the Department objected to the'airbrake being installed?

Mr. Holmes: Not from that point of view. '

Mr. H'Kenzie: Mr. Walklate told the committee that that occurred in conversation, in Auckland. The business of the Department is not conducted by way of conversation, is it?

Mr. Holmes: No, but points are often discussed before being put in writing.