JJ.—6

6

Statement of Mr. J. F. McCarthy, Workshop Manager, Newmarket. I am Workshop Manager, .Newmarket Railway Workshops. I am not aware of any grounds for the statement made in Parliament that repairs to rollingstock have not been kept up to the usual standard of efficiency during recent years and that there is a shortage of spares. The instructions re upkeep of condition of rolling-stock affecting safety have not been in any way amended or relaxed during the last three years. We have not experienced any difficulty in getting the necessary spares to maintain all rollingstock sent to shops in thoroughly safe and efficient running-order. The condition and upkeep of rolling-stock has not in any way gone back, and it is as good now as it was at any time during my experience. _ 1 am certainly not aware of any rolling-stock running in an unsafe condition, nor can I supply any information to show that such a state of affairs exist. I do not know of any alteration in the design of rolling-stock which would in any way interfere with its safety. J. F. McCarthy, I9th July, 1916. Workshop Manager, Newmarket.

Statement of Mr. D. A. Alourh, Car and Wagon Inspector, Auckland. 1 am Car and Wagon Inspector for the Auckland District. My duty, in the first place, is to see that the whole of the rolling-stock is maintained in a safe and efficient condition to travel on any train, and that any vehicle unfit for service is immediately withdrawn and arrangements made for its repair. 1 am responsible for seeing that all vehicles before leaving workshops are in thoroughly safe running-order. I am not aware of any grounds for the statements made in Parliament thai repairs to rolling-stock have not been kept up to the usual standard of efficiency during recent years, and that there is a shortage of spares. The instructions re upkeep of condition of rolling-stock affecting safety have not been in any way amended or relaxed during the last three years. 1 have not experienced any difficulty in getting the' necessary spares to maintain all rollingstock in thoroughly safe and efficient running-order. The condition and upkeep of rolling-stock have not in any way gone back, and is as good now was at any time during my experience. I have never allowed any vehicle to remain in service in an unsafe condition. If any defects are discovered that would affect the safe running of vehicle it is immediately withdrawn from service. I cannot supply any information to show that rolling-stock in an unsafe condition is allowed to remain in service. I have not been in any way debarred from sending cars and wagons to shops for repairs when necessary. I am fully aware that my responsibility is defined by Loco. Instruction No. 328. D, A. Moore, ■ 19th July, 1916. Car and Wagon Inspector, Auckland.

Statement of Mr. 11. F, Holder, Workshop Koicinan, Newmarket. I am Workshop Foreman Carpenter, Newmarket Railway Workshops. It is my duty to see that all vehicles, new, rebuilt, or repaired, are in thoroughly safe running-order before leaving shops. With regard to the statement made in Parliament that repairs to rolling-stock have not been kept up during recent years, and that there is a shortage of spares, there are no grounds for such a statement as far as Newmarket Workshops are concerned. The instructions re upkeep of condition of rolling-stock affecting safety have not been in any way amended or relaxed during the last three years. We have not experienced any difficulty in getting the usual spares to maintain all rollingstock sent to shops in thoroughly efficient and safe running-order. The condition and upkeep of rolling-stock has not in any way gone back, and is as good now as it was at any time during my experience. I am not aware of any rolling-stock running in an unsafe condition, nor can I supply any information to show that any vehicles are running in an unsafe' condition. 11. F. Holder, 19th July, 1916. Workshop Foreman, Newmarket.

Locomotive Engineer's Office, Petone, 20th July, 1916. Chief Mechanical Engineer. Condition of Rolling-stock. There are no grounds whatever for the statements made in Parliament that the repairs to rollingstock have not been kept up during recent years, and that there is a shortage of spares. The instructions regarding the safe and efficient maintenance of rolling-stock have not been amended or relaxed during the last three years.