RAILWAY ROLLING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3009, 21 February 1917, Page 6

RAILWAY ROLLING

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY

FURTHER SITTING IN WELLINGTON

Tho commission appointed to inquire regarding the condition of the rolling stock on the Government railways continued its sittings in ■Wellington yesterday, and heard additional evidence from railway officers. The members of the commission are.: Professor R. J. Scott (Canterbury College), Mr. J. P. Maxwell (civil engineer), and Mr. J. Marchbanks (engineer to the Wellington Harbour Board). jThe chairman stated that the commission would sit in Dunedin on March 7 andin Christchurch on March 9. The commissioners had' decided that a test of draw-bar springs should be made under their observation in order to determine the relative value of pieced springsand solid springs. They asked the Railway Department to- arrange that the carriage in which they travelled in the South Island should ba fitted with trapdoors over the springs in ■ order that their behaviour might be.watched. John C. Cherrie, locomotive foreman at Whangarei, said that he had been in charge of the repair depot at Nelson until a few weeks previously. There, were sufficient men at Nelson to do necessary work to the rolling Btock. The condition of the stock had improved within recent years. The Westinghouse brake had not yet been installed in the section. His instructions had been that rolling stock was to be kept at a high state of efficiency, and there had been no shortage of parts for repairs. He had not used pieced springs. His requisitions had received prompt attention, and he had not been pressed to economise. ' Henry Archibald, recently in charge of the depot at Picton, gave similar evidence. He had never seen any broken axles or tyres. Frederick Arthur Laurie,' late workshop foreman at Greymouth. and now at Petom-., said that the/rolling stock on the West Const was maintained in a high state of efficiency. He had seen pieced draw-bar springs used for thirty years, and did not 'think that they caused any danger. Other witnesses gavo evidence on similar lines. Henri- Sharman, senior train examiner at Palmerston North, referred to a shortage of staff and repair, accommodation at that station. Permanent aiding accommodation for repairs at Palmerston North was urgently required. Mr. M. Myers (appearing for the Department) said it was a Question of money. Improvements at Palmerston North were proposed, but the war had delved the work. William Seninun. leading lifter at Lambton. said there was a shortage of accommodation. He thought that more men could be* employed even with the exictinc; accommodation.

Charles Henry Burridge, train examiner, said the present oondition of the rolling-stock was better than it had been three years previously. If he found a watron with a broken draw-spring, he would tighten tho gear or might take the vehicle off if the trouble was serious. A wagon might be allowed to go forward with a loose broken drawspring if it was carrying nerisliable goods. It would be noted for attention at the first opportunity. If. a broken bearing spring was found the vehicle would be taken off at once. John Hobbs, train examiner, gave similar evidence. S. P. Evans, locomotive engineer at Wellington, said the accommodation for repairs at Lambton Station was at present limited, but the matter was receiving attention. Ho bad mad" recommendations on the subject. "When additional accommodation was provided the dnsirabilitv of increasing tbe staff would be considered. A new sfced was under erection at the present time. There would he no advantage iii enlarging tbe staff until additional space was available. To the chairman: The repflir staff at, Lambton bad to do wbat it could, tho balance, of the worlc.mn'hg to Petoii" Pressu"" of work bad occurred at Petone. ■ The aeonmmocTatfor' at Palmerston was not sufficient, and additionswere proposed. But .the work would involve tbe reorganisation of the whole yard, nnd at present equipment was not available. v Mr. Myers =aid he had no further evidence to call. Tho chairman *nid the Commission wonffl now proceed to inspect' th" stock at Thorndon, Lambton, and Petone. It would examine the repair facilities at tbe same places. The Commission would leave, for Picton and Nelson on Friday. Mr. Maxwell would inspect the stock on the Pioton section, while the chairman . and Mr. . Marchßanl-s would inspect the Nelson section, and, if'possible, would visit Wostnort.