43

D.—4a.

H. SLOANE.]

13. Did you invent an internal tube-cutter ?—That is a thing I really claim I should get notice for. This cutter is quite an improvement on any other internal tube-cutter. At any rate, it is one of the best, and I made it and patented it by permission of the head of the Department. [Witness gave a detailed description of the working of the tube-cutter, which he submitted to the Board for their inspection, and handed in copies of correspondence between himself and the Department relating to his claim for monetary consideration for his invention.] 14. In "working these things out, and thinking over them, have you occupied any time outside of working-hours ? —The thinking and planning of them is entirely done outside of working-hours. I lie awake many an hour thinking on these things. 15. The treatment you have received, you think, does not encourage you to use your brains much ? —Certainly not. I may say also that I have planned a method for obviating the danger always experienced in regard to the belting slipping off. That has always been a great source of trouble and danger. The larger the shop is the greater is this trouble, and I think that on a low calculation Addington loses eight hours every month in belt-replacement. By my appliance there is no necessity to stop the engine at all. I have also invented an improved boiler-stay tap, which has greatly facilitated the process in that work. An improvement on the perforated punch is another of my devices which is very valuable as a labour-saver. I have got very little encouragement for what I have done. 16. The Chairman.] What is your rating at Addington ? —I am called a fitter. 17. Are you rated as tool-room fitter ? —No, as Fitter Sloane. 18. What are you paid I —Ten shillings and sixpence per day. 19. You are not rated as tool-room fitter ?—No ; I have been in charge of the tools since Mr. Smith was made foreman. 20. Is it your duty to look after the tools and construct new tools ? —lt is not my duty to construct new tools, but it is my duty to keep the old tools in order; and it is my duty to order new tools from the Stores, but not to invent tools. 21. You are not asked by the foreman to make tools ?—I am invited to make tools. 22. Were you asked to make a coupling for flexible hydraulic tubes, or did you suggest a coupling ? —I was decidedly asked and pressed to make that coupling. 23. Were you asked to make the stud-extractor ? —No, I made that, and after I made it I showed it to my foreman, who approved of it. 24. Was the radial cutting-head suggested by you, or were you asked to make it ?—I was asked by the foreman. 25. You spoke about a die for making swab-irons which you were asked to manufacture by Mr. Smith. How is this die used ?—lt is used under the large punching-machine. 26. Are you quite certain that you were asked by Mr. Smith to make this die ? —Yes. 27. What were the dies made of ? —Cast steel. 28. Would you be surprised to learn that swab-frames were made under the large stampingmachine with a die at Addington before the time of your going to the works ?—I should be surprised if they were so, because I have never seen it. 29. You spoke of an improved tube-expander. Are you familiar with the Yarrow expander ?— Dudgeon's is the most used. I have never seen a Yarrow, and know nothing about it. 30. Are you familiar with the Wicksteed tube-cutter ? —Yes. 31. Is there any difference between your tube-cutter and that one ? —Yes, there is a considerable difference. The best of them that I saw was one with three little levers, and they would not do. 32. Mr. Roberts.] Are you in charge of the tools in the shop ? —Of the hand-tools, such as millingtools. 33. You are not responsible for the lathes or planing-machines ? —No. 34. Mr. Niven.] Do they use all those appliances that you have mentioned at Addington and other workshops in the Dominion ?—Every one is in every-day use when required except the tubecutter, and they want that badly, but I have a protection over it. 35. You made the first stay-tap that you ever saw in Addington ?—The first I ever saw in New Zealand. 36. Had you an opportunity of seeing in Cable's whether they had them or not ? —I was in Cable's four or five months. 37. They might have been there and you not see them ? —They might have been —locked up in a cupboard —but mine are quite original to me. John May examined. (No. 25.) 1. Mr. Hampton.] What is your present employment ?—Blacksmith at Addington. 2. What is your rate of pay I —Ten shillings and sixpence per day. 3. How long have you been employed at Addington ? —Twelve years. !■■ 4. What other experience have you had as a blacksmith ?—I was in Nelson twice, in Wellington two or three times, and also in Sydney. I worked in the Anchor Foundry twice, Cable'-s twice, Luke's twice, and also in the Soho Foundry in Sydney. 5. How did you find the discipline and work at Addington compare with those of the other places in which you have been employed ? —I am quite satisfied that Addington is just as hard a shop to work in as any other shop. Mr. Cole expects his men to turn out a fair day's work, and if they do not they know about it. 6. Mr. Cole mentioned yesterday something about your having introduced some new appliances in connection with your work ?—I have introduced several. One thing in particular is a connectingrod with the switch-boxes for points-and-crossings work. They used to do eight of these a day, and after I invented this tool we did forty a day. It has been a big saving to the Department, so the