ADDINGTON WORKSHOPS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2531, 18 June 1909, Page 5

ADDINGTON WORKSHOPS

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENQUIRY. WHOLESALE REORGANISATION RECOMMENDED. 1 (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 17. Ihe report of the Board of Inquiry re the Addington railway workshops states that the Board had carefully considered the evidence given in the inquiry. The work done at Addington was partially repair and partially new and, under existing conditions, the Board found a difficulty in separating the results obtained, through the standard for comparison in the two cases being different. A system of working may be tolerated in connection with repairs which would be altogether out of place in a construction shop. The Board have thought it befit to compare the conduct of the new work at Addington with modern manufacturing practices, but would draw' attention to the fact that at Addington the new work has gradually increased in amount, and has up to the present, probably from the force of circumstances, been conducted very much on repair lines. The history of Addington appears to be the common history of such undertakings, in which new work gradually grows to such proportions that what is in reality a make-shift method of carrying on becomes intolerable in such cases. The Board finds, especially in the machine shop, many modern and efficient machine tools, and the sleeps generally are well equipped for repair work, but, if manufacturing is to bo economically Slid efficiently carried on, very considerable alterations and additions must be made to the plant, appliances, and buildings. The work has outgrown the capacity of the platerolling plant. The arrangement and grouping of machines were had, and the tool room and its equipment not what might have been expected in a shop expected to turn out accurate work. . Having drawn attention to liirther machinery and equipment defects, the Board recommends a complete remodelling of the buildings. A well-equipped shop section for the manufacture of under-frames is necessary, and a complete multiple drilling; plant should be installed. The motive power arrangements were wasteful in the extreme, and the overworked boilers, etc., fully accounted for the enormous oil consumption of 3700 tons per annum for power purposes alone. The Board recommends the abolition of existing arrangements, and establishment of acentral prmlucw gas and electric power venerating station. The practice of cnvryirm' on together new and repair v.c’-k and of transferring men ana machines from one to the other tends to increase the cost of production. There was a lack of systematic connection with the machine shop and tom room, and the method of dealing with the equipment of the tool room was unsatisfactory. . The system of time and cost keepin<T in use was unsatisfactory. ihe foremen seemed to spend 25 per cent. of their time going through the workmen’s books. The Board recommended that there should be a complete separation of new from repair work. .. The report then goes into technical matters connected with the arrangement of the various mechanical branches. The Board were satisfied from evidence and their own investigation that there was no systematic loafing, and considered that the workshops manager should he held responsible for the results obtained and, as a consequence, given greater powers of control. The cost of locomotives built at Addington had been carefully compared with that of similar work by Price Bros., Thames, with the result that the cost of the work at Addington was in all cases greater than that of similar engines constructed elsewhere. The differences in cost are as follows: Class A engines: 36 per cent, over Price Bros.’

Class B engines: 64} per cent, above those imported. Class A engines: 54 per cent, more than English, and 74 per cent, more than American cost. The Board considered that the socalled profit for the year had been arrived at by neglecting of the portion charged to foundry accounts. THE BOARD’S FINDING.

Summing up the results of the inquiry, the Board are of opinion that work at Addington had not been done as expeditiously and economically as it might bo, especially in the smiths', boiler, machine erecting, car and waggon shops. The plant and appliances were suitable for carrying on repair work, but required additions to render them efficient for manufacturing purposes. The system of work was faulty, owing to the combination of repair ivith new work. The discipline maintained at presents was creditable both to officers and workmen, but the system of classification was calculated to dishearten the better class of employees. If the Department determines to continue the manufacture of locomotives, tho Board are of opinion that, either tho additional appliances enumerated should be installed at Addington with a new manufacturing shop section distinct from the repair section, or an independent general railway manufacturing shop should be set up' in. a suitable locality. Failing one of these courses of action, contracts should in future be let to private firms for all locomotives required.

THE GENERAL MANAGER’S MEMORANDUM. COMMENTS ON THE REPORT. The General Manager of Railways (Mr. T. Ronayne), in a lengthy memorandum attached - to the report, explains the position as regards the railway workshops. These were .originally intended as repair shops. when the b u siness o f the country began- to expand in 1895, it- was found that there was insufficient rolling stock to meetthe requirements. Orders were placed for a large number of waggons, carnages, and locomotives in England and America, and the Government decided to supplement these by building at their own workshops. This .course was adopted, as obviating, the erection of n manufacturing shop. The wisdom of

this course was now apparent, as the quantity of rolling stock turned out from the workshops during the last , nine years has placed the Department in a jjosition to meet all the demands of the traffic; and the general manager does not anticipate that any large additions to rolling stock will be necessary. Some of the machines at Addington are admittedly not of the newest type, and it is unreasonable to compare the work done at Addington with the modern manufacturing practice, which is entirely to separate repair from new work. He considers that the establishment of separate manufacturing shops would he unwarranted. Mr. Ronayne reviews the statements of the Board regarding the plant and appliances, and gives details connected therewith, also the proposal? for improvements. He recognises .thats' the motive power arrangements are'not up to date, but believes that the matter . resolves itself into a question of expenditure. There was a considerable difference of opinion as to what wa« the most efficient and economical motive power for shop machinery. He did not concur in the opinion of the Board that a saving of £3500 per year could be effected by making the change they suggest in motive power. After referring to the system of time and cost keeping, which he considered thoroughly effective, the manager deals with the Board’s recommendation that repair woi’k should be completely separate from new work, ne considers it impracticable under the existing conditions. He disagrees with the Board as regards discipline, and holds thatthe evidence proved that the amount of work done bv the men was satisfactory. He traverses the.remarks made by the Board in regard to differences in the cost of production. It shoukL.be remembered, he remarks, that labor conditions and facilities in New Zealand vary widely from those in the United Ivingdom and America. The conclusions of the Board that the work is not done as expeditiously and economically as it might be. were not in accordance with the weight of evidence. He fully recognised the desirability of separating repairs from new work,’but does not thin’A that the business is sufficient to warrant his recommending the Government to expend the largo amount of capital necessary to equip an. up-to-date manufacturing shop. In regard to the Board’s suggestion as to the course that should be followed in the event of the Department continuing the manufacture of locomotives, the same objection applied. He quite recognises the desirability of improving the equipment of the various workshops from time to time as circumstances require and funds are available.