ADDINGTON INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 40, 12 March 1909, Page 2

ADDINGTON INQUIRY.

THE "UJVEHNMENT STItOKE.' 1 A KJiTBACTIUK. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christolmreh, Last Xight. At tin; Addington workshops' enquiry to-day it was announced that tin l employees would be represented by I!. Hampton. Evidence was given by T. Konayne, General Manager of Kaihvays, who said tile letter to the. ineelianicai engineer containing the charges wan the ouhonr.' of complaints made by his informant, whose -iiame *it' declined to give. lie had. since caused an enquiry to be made, and was satisfied there was no ground lor complaint. The Hun. E, .fonkinson said part of the charges in Mr. Ro.ia.vneV letter were evidently based -in a conversation .he had with liiiii. He made a long statement regarding work at Addlngton, stating -that the present system prevented good and economical results. Some of the inachi inery was too old, and the appliances 1 defective. The enquiry will bo resumed to-mor-row.

Jill. MILLAR INTERVIEW lit). Wellington, Last Night. "I have had no communication from , tlie commissioners regarding Air. llo-nayne'-s withdrawal," explained the Hon. J. A. Millar (.Minister for Railways) when a New Zealand Times representative enquired this evening as to what , would be the next development at Addington. "The commission will go_ on just the same," said Mr. Millar. '' I'll'' matter is ill the hands of the commission, audi I have nothing to do with it until they present their report. There are points outside the question of doing a fair day's work." The allegations of the "Governmetß stroke" are withdrawn, so there is no reflection upon the workmen.—Mr. Millar: "That is bo, but I want the commission to say whether _ the work is done economically at Addington." The Minister was questioned regarding his apparent desire to control the witnesses who could give evidence before tihe commission, and explained that his direction regarding written authority for peTsons to appear before the | commission applied, to those who were to represent any of the parties an advocates. The direction had absolutely no- , thing to- do with witnesses. "All railway men may give evidence," lie added. ! "and there is actually an- advertisement appearing in tlhc southern newspapers Inviting them to do bo."