47

H.—24

The Chairman. —The Commissioners would first like to hear expert evidence as to the efficiency of the brakes in actual service on the Wellington tramways and elsewhere. There have been a large number of tests of the magnetic brake in different portions of the world, and its stoppingpower is well known; but what the Commission desires to know is what results have been attained by the use of this brake—as to its durability, efficiency, and reliability. Mr. O'Shea.—l propose to call Mr. Cable on this point. Mr. Stuart Richardson, being a member of the last Commission which sat in Auckland, would prefer that the Commission see their way to examine Mr. Cable instead of himself. Mr. Cable, who' is Assistant Electrical Engineer to the Wellington tramways, is familiar with the working of the magnetic brake in England. _ If the Commission desire to call Mr. Richardson, I would ask the Commissioners that, in view of the previous Commission, they strictly limit Mr. Richardson's evidence to his general opinion on the magnetic brake as working in Wellington. The Chairman. —The Commission has decided that it will be necessary to call Mr. Richardson. The Commissioners do not consider the fact that he was a member of the last Commission affects the matter, as he is Engineer of the Wellington tramways, and the engineer of the Auckland Tramways Company has been called; and it is proposed to examine engineers of the other tramway systems of the Dominion. No reference to the finding of the last Commission will be permitted. Mr O'Shea.~~l am. not quite clear as to the attitude which the Wellington Tramways Employees Union intend to take here, and I thought therefore it might be better if their evidence was given first, as I should like to know what evidence we shall require to call Mr. FitzgiUon. —On behalf of the union I may say that we intend to take up a passive attitude. If there is any evidence called by the Corporation with which we are not in agreement, then we request the right to call rebutting.evidence. The Chairman.—l? the union adopts a passive attitude it seems to bo a very correct one 1 do not think the union is much concerned in the collection of information as to the working of the magnetic brake by the Commissioners, but the union may be able to assist us I understand however, that the men here are not bringing forward any particular complaints against this Mr. o'Shea.—l propose to address the Commission generally on the attitude the Council takes up and then to call Mr. Cable and other officers, with leave to call such further evidence in rebuttal of any statements made by the union as may be thought necessary. I may say that brou htin ' Can See ' aTly CoT,fliCt between tIS and the union is ""probable if side issxies are not _ Mr. Myers.~l should like to ascertain what the position of the Auckland Tramway Company is so tar as the Wellington evidence is concerned. The evidence called in Auckland so far as the company is concerned, was confined to the question of what is the best brake, having regard to the conditions existing there, and the Commission had the opportunity after I left Auckland secTs gI 6 exhails r i 7 K test - The question I wish to put, Id which the Commission may see its way to answer is this: Is the evidence which the Commission desires to call with regard to the Wellington and Dunedin systems limited to those cities, or to the last clause of the scope of the inquiry, or does it have any immediate bearing upon the question as it exists in Auckland" lany herf W d C * Ue f 7 affect f *« attitude may be taken up on behalf of the col f a P 2 ™>. d ° n °* mak f attack upon a particular brake or upon a particular system ifrakeToTTe *° ** of the'best The previous Commission reported in favour of the use of the magnetic brake in Auckland This Commission, when there, heard a considerable amount of evidence and in the evidence which was led by yourself, on behalf of the company statements were made to the effect that the magnetic brake was not a suitable one, having regard to Auckland conditions Statements were made by witnesses that the magnetic brake had very serious faults when used on steep gradients and at high and low velocities. The Commission listened to the evidence which was led with regard to the superiority of the air brake and of the hand-brake and also to the evidence which was brought forward against the adoption of the magnetic brlke The latter brake has been muse in both this city and Dunedin for some time, 8 and foSeir full information the Commies oners are desirous of knowing what have been the practical results o mhlt'sTeport"^ 1 Eft™ *** h ™ ™T ™ «**£» on base the ComSlk v j d*° recomm end legislation accordingly. Legislation will r>ro bably be brought down, and therefore Wellington and Dunedin must be affected by that >lig£ o call further evidence. We called a considerable amount of evidence before aTd I really think tZ J r n * c C ° mmissi - accedin g *> 5 request at a later stage' ' lhe Uhairman.—All the Commissioners are endeavouring to do is to arrive at a sminrf