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10. Are high-speed steel tools used at Addington ?—ln almost every case. 11. Does the big planing-machine come under your observation ? —Yes. 12. For what purpose is the big planing-machine used generally ?—For cylinders mostly. Up till the time they got the new crossing-shop it was constantly making switches for points-and-crossings work. 13. Was it used for centres of turntables ? —Yes. 14. Have you another planing-machine at Addington to take these turntable-centres ?—No. 15. Have you any trouble with apprentices ?—Not more than the usual trouble. I think apprenbe on trial for twelve months. You cannot get a fair idea of what a boy is worth under twelve months. If he does not prove himself to be of any good you can then get rid of him. Under the present system it is impossible to say at the end of three months whether a boy is good or is not. It would be better for the boy and better for the Department to have a longer trial. 16. The Chairman.'] You have charge of the machines ?—Yes. 17. If the foreman fitter engaged with new work requires work for repairs, how do you go about it , ?—He comes to me. 18. You say that three men refused to work overtime, and two were dismissed, and one was retained ? —Yes. 19. Was there any special reason why this one man should be taken back ?—When the position was pointed out to him he returned to work at once. 20. I understand you have a certain amount of office-work to do ? —Yes. It is mostly signing my name, and there is, in addition, the time-sheets. They are supposed to be signed daily. Sometimes there are two hundred time-books in my department. 21. Where do you sign these books ?—ln the office. 22. ■ Have you tried signing them in the shop ?—No. 23. Mr. Hampton.] With regard to these two men who were dismissed for refusing to work overtime, were there any holidays in the week in which they were asked to work overtime ?—I think Good Friday came into that week. 24. Is it not the case that a man is not paid overtime unless he works forty-eight hours in any one week I —l understand that is so. 25. Each day does not stand by itself ?—No. 26. Would it not be an advantage to you in the maintaining of discipline that each day's overtime should stand on its own as the overtime of that particular day ?—I would prefer it personally. 27. Mr. Roberts.] What is your opinion of the lathes in use at Addington generally, taking the old ones in particular ? —We do what we can with them, but they are not sufficient to get the increased output that the high-speed gear should warrant. 28. You have some lathes built specially for high speed, have you not ? —Yes. 29. Do you not think it would be a benefit to take out the old lathes and put in new ones ?—I think so, decidedly. I think twelve out of thirty are beneficial. 30. They are all at work ?—Yes. 31. The same applies to the drilling-machine ?—Not so much. We have got some fairly good machines for drilling, but they are not up to date. 32. What do you think of the present lifting-appliances ? —They are not very good. 33. Do you think anything could be done to improve the present shop ? —I think it would be useless to do anything with the present shop except that the repair-work might be separated from the new work. Daniel Joseph Round examined. (No. 20.) 1. Mr. Beattie.] What is your position ? —I have got charge of the painting, tarpaulin, and trimming department at Addington, and I have had thirty years' experience in the Railway service. During that time I have worked at Addington, with the exception of eight years at Newmarket, Auckland. 2. By way of comparison with Newmarket and Addington, do you find that there is any appreciable difference in discipline and industry in the conduct of the work ? —I cannot say that I have noticed any difference. They may appear to be a little more bustling in Newmarket, but that might be because of the restricted area of the works. All the same, the men work just as hard at Addington as they do at Newmarket. 3. Does that apply to trimmers and tarpaulin-men ? —Yes. 4. You are quite satisfied that throughout the whole department you have an efficient staff at Addington % —Yes. George Edward Richardson examined. (No. 21.) 1. Mr. Beattie.] What is your position ? —Workshops Manager at Addington. 2. What is your number of years in the service ? —Twenty-five and a half years. 3. How many years have you been at Addington ? —Fifteen months as Workshops Manager. 4. What was your position prior to that ? —Workshops Manager at Newmarket, previous to that Manager at Hillside, and prior to that Locomotive Engineer for Westland and Inspecting Engineer for the Nelson Section. 5. In your office do you keep a book for the issue of permits to visitors ?—We do. 6. Have permits been issued to the Hon. Mr. Jenkinson within the last twelve months ?—Yes, on two occasions. 7. Can you give the dates ?—The 12th November—that was during Carnival Week—and the 16th November, the first working-day after the Carnival Week holidays.