D.—4

38

principles have been established, a comparison with the 1926 figures (when the old workshops were in existence) shows that a greater number of men are now employed and that the output is less :■ —

A total increase between 1926 and 1930 of 687. Although a large proportion of this increase in staff comes under the heading of " Emergency Casuals," many of whom were tradesmen and unskilled labourers and were engaged to relieve unemployment and were partly utilized in constructional work, it will be noted that the decrease in numbers under the other three headings totals only fifty-eight, a very small reduction when compared with the original estimates which anticipated a reduction in staff totalling approximately eight hundred. The following is a statement of the output of the workshops for the years 1926 to 1930 inclusive : —■

The foregoing figures show that the volume of repair work carried out in the old workshops was in excess of similar work undertaken in the new workshops. The work undertaken, covering the erection of new locomotives, cars, vans, and wagons in the years 1926 to 1930 inclusive, is as under : —

This again shows a greater volume of work carried out in 1926 in comparison with 1930. Overhead Expenses. —As previously stated in this report, it was estimated when proposals for the reorganization of the workshops were formulated and approved that an annual saving of £230,000 would be effected, but that this saving would be reduced to a net figure of £115,000 by the increased overhead expenses.

Personnel. I j j j Permanent I n i m ,, , Emergency j rr , , Tji t Casuals. lerm Casuals. n 1 i lotals. Employees. j | Casuals. I > I 1926 .. .. 2,332 494 687 i 16 3,529 1927 .. .. 2,355 475 674 | 33 3,537 1928 .. .. 2,241 389 653 44 3,327 1929 .. .. 2,211 413 643 383 3,650 1930 .. .. 2,330 461 664 761 4,216

I I I I Rpnairs to 1 Heav y Li g ht ! Renairs tn ' Li S h t XvClJcilio IU T) • T"t • . XvUUcillo IU -t-\ • 7-j • 1 Kepairs. liepairs. 1 r liepairs. liepairs. Locomotives— Vans— 1926 .. .. 262 420 1926 .. .. 423 314 1927 .. .. 229 445 1927 .. .. 361 313 1928 .. .. 215 455 1928 .. .. 343 291 1929 .. .. 185 473 1929 .. .. 295 277 1930 .. .. 267 319 1930 .. .. 402 200 Cars — Wagons — 1926 .. .. 1,449 812 1926 .. .. 14,397 11,023 1927 .. .. 1,356 786 1927 .. .. 13,446 10,080 1928 .. .. 1,409 751 1928 .. .. 12,612 7,634 1929 .. .. 1,151 798 1929 .. .. 11,431 8,246 1930 .. .. 1,463 495 1930 .. .. 14,878 6,105

j Locomotives. | Cars. Vans. • Wagons. 1926 .... 6 46 18 367 1927 12 6 6 216 1928 .... 2 4 21 252 1929 .. .. .. 10 6 497 1930 .. .. .. 11 3 399