95

I.—9a.

G. LOMAS.

88. Have you any instances where men have been dismissed whom you consider would have had their sentences reversed if there had been an Appeal Board?— They would have had a better chance. 89. A case has been mentioned here with regard to J H. Timms do you know that man? —Yes. 90. Have you driven the car that he had? —I drove one car that was in one of the collisions he had. I think he had two collisions. 91 Had you ever reported that car for a defective brake?— Yes, I reported to the Manager on two trips previous to my accident with it. 92. About how long ago would that be? —About five years ago. 93. It was the same car that was concerned in that accident?— Yes. I told the Manager the car was not fit to be in the traffic, and he said he would give me another when I got back. But there was no car when I got back, and I had an accident with it. 94. What was the accident? —Running into stray horses. 95. Did you get any punishment for that? —No. I was not satisfied with the result of this matter, and went down next morning to examine the car, and he put on the compressor and tried the brake, and the piston of the brake was right out, and there was no pressure on the wheel. 96. Did you consider that your reports had not been attended to in the depot?—l could not say that. It seemed strange that this car was reported every day for bad brakes, and there was no alteration. 97 With regard to the report-book in clause 9, do you approve of that?— Yes. 98. Are you satisfied with your present system?— No. 99. What system have you? —The loose-leaf system. 100. Was that always in operation ?—No; we had the book before. 101 How long has the book system been superseded?— About twelve or eighteen months. 102 What became of that book?—I could not it disappeared one night. 103. You saw it one night, and it was seen no more? —So rumour said. 104. Have you seen it since? —No. 105. It is said that the loose leaves are filed? —Yes, they are filed for a time. 106 Do you know whether you have a right to ask for or to inspect the back reports?—We never questioned the right. 107 You have not applied for it?— No. 108. Was the union under the impression that the back files could not be seen?— They never pressed it, because it might look suspicious. 109 With regard to clause 2, do you think a motorman trained and receiving a certificate in one centre would be able to take a position as motorman in another centre so far as efficiency is concerned I —Yes. 110. Do you think that you as a motorman trained in Christchurch would be able to take up a position as motorman in Auckland right away provided the regulations allowed it?—l do. 111. Have you known motormen from other systems to come to Christchurch and drive without any further training?— Only with the local knowledge with regard to the air brake, and they could learn that in a couple of days easily 112. At the same time would they be able to learn the stops?— Learn the roads and the air brake. 113. Do you know of any instance you could put on record where men have come from other systems and been put on?—By the dozen. 114. Do you know a man named Haigh?—Yes. 115. Where did he come from? —The Old Country 116. Was he put on the handles at Christchurch? —Yes. 117 Had he any local training?—He could not have had at the time. He came on the opening day, and was one of the instructors. 118. Was he a capable man?—So far as I could judge at the time—l was working in the shed. 119 Do you know a man named Hueston?—Yes. 120. Where did he come from?— Brisbane. 121 Did he have any local training? —He was put on as an instructor 122 Was he there on the opening day? —Yes, he was in the leading car 123. Do you know whether the air brake is in operation in Brisbane?— Not to my knowledge. 124. Do you know a man named Johnson? —-Yes. 125 Where did he come from?— From the Old Country, I think. 126. Was he there on the opening day? —No. 127 Was he put on after a few hours? —He had about a couple of days to learn the stops. 128. Do you know where J Whitehouse came from? —The Old Country 129. Did he have any training there? —No. 130. Do you know W Foster?— Yes, 131 Where did he come from?— Brisbane. 132. He had no local training? —Only similar to the others. 133. And Ben Whitehouse, where did he come from? —The Old Country 134. Did he need to go through the ninety-six hours' training before he was put on to drive? —No. 135 Where did J Barker come from?— Auckland. 136. Did he put in ninety-six hours' training?— No. 137 Did he drive straight away?— They all went through about a couple of days in learning the stops. 138. You know that the Auckland service has neither the magnetic brake nor the air brake? —Yes.