48

H.—24

iiligSilSili Lts we have made on the Brooklyn line, and evidence as to our methods of inspection m me " Bvstem ag it insures safety in this respect, that a motorman instinct vely does the right ,mi Xn continually using the same type" of brake; and secondly we have been^ informed that the reason why the magnetic brake did not please the authorities there was titat it is an ienlve brake to his all and maintain. It was dispensed with not because of am- defects therein but because it was considered that they could obtain all that was required at less cost by he so of the air brake I have in ray hand a report of the inaugural meeting of the Australian Tramway Officers' Association, which contains a paper read by Mr. Brain-a paper read to improve the knowledge of his brother officials throughout Australasia; and I wish to refer ou to Mr. Kneeshaw ; s remarks thereon in 1.907, which I consider are much more valuable to thTcommissfon as an indication of what Mr. Kneeshaw's actual views were on the magnetic itkebeTorfit was decided to discard it in. Sydney for the reasons KneeXaw" refer to this in order to remove from the minds of the Commission any idea that Mr. Kneeshaw 8 statement is a condemnation of the magnetic brake after it was decided to remove it The Chairman.—There is a qualifying statement in Mr. Kneeshaw s declaration, that the magnetic brake when properly handled is very effective, but considerable care is required in. training use Commission that it is not proper at this stage of brakedevelopment to do away with the hand-brake, and that we would deprecate any proposal. toTdieDense with it I would ask the Commission, in consideration of the simplicity of the action ot the hand-brake and of its safety (though circumscribed), not to interfere with our braking system n that respect. I would also point out to the Commission that the magnetic brake is used very largely in Britain, and we can quote from the rules of the Manchester Corporation to show- that fif used as service brake. It has been stated in evidence in Auckland that the magnetic brake is notwdtor service stops under certain conditions; but it is used here as a service brake, and ye propose to show that it is so used in other system.. The Council asks the Commission to accept St,t "»d W.,. A«i..>™, »d, i» ogling evidehi, to ,*,,«„ o —: d ««. *temagnetic brake and its working both here and in Britain.