Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Friday 6 September 1878, page 3


MILLIGAN'S PATENT BREAK.

Mr. Samuel Milligan and others interested in Milligan's patent break had an interview with the Chief Secretary yesterday, to request that an experimental trial of the break might be allowed on the Victorian railways. The application had been made to the Com-missioner of Railways, but had been re-

fused.

Mr. MILLIGAN gave an explanation con-cerning his break, and stated that it had been patented here and at home. He mentioned that he had valuable testimony from home speaking highly of the invention, and re-marked that there were 106 patents for breaks in England. He desired to have an experi-mental trial of his break, and was willing to guarantee payment of all expenses.

Mr. BERRY said that the same request might be made by the other 105 patentees, and it was not reasonable to suppose that the Government could test all breaks. There was as no present intention on the part of the Government to forestall fair inquiry, and when the time came for the adoption of one particular break on the Victorian railways, the proper course would be to appoint some independent scientific board to decide which was the best brake. An exhaustive inquiry would be a necessary preliminary to the selection of the break, but the Government could not undertake to put into practical use every invention. He (Mr. Berry) had never heard hitherto of any breaks equal in merit to Westinghouse's and Woods', and no doubt other breaks, before coming into competition, would have to make out a prima facie

case.

Mr. FINCHAM put the matter as one of fair play, Woods break had been tested on the Victorian railways, and why should not the same privilege be granted in this case, more especially when the state was to be put to no expense?

Mr. BERRY.—Everybody cannot be Com-missioner of Railways. Besides, the Victorian railways cannot be turned into an experi-mental shop for all the breaks invented. All that he could say was that when the time came to choose a break the matter would have to be referred to a competent board, but there was now too much political feeling excited to enable a board to which no objec-tion would be taken to be appointed.