SPEED OF TRAINS: A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7823, 16 June 1909, Page 1

SPEED OF TRAINS: A SERIOUS CHARGE.

P<*]f Presß Association. j DUNEDIN, June 15. ■ The speed of the Otago Central railway trains was discussed at a sitting of the Railway Appeal Board yesterday morning m an_. appeal by, Enpi gine-driver H. Woodhead, who Had been reduced m position- and; pay for having run a train 'at an excessive speed .on tho Otago Central line ori> December 24th. Mr A. McKie, who appeared on behalf of the appellant, said tkat by verbal instructions, and by telephone, engine-drivers were iriduced to run trains at an excessive speed on the Otago Central line. If a driver did not do so, the result was not favourable to him —he was removed to some shunting or ballast train engine. The chairman (Judge Haselden): All the engine-drivers had to do was to say; "We shall run according to regulations, m spite of verbal instructions from anyone." ' ; •' i.' Mr McKio said that that had been tried, but men had been sent away on ballast trains, , ■ i • , t i His Honour: I hope your statements 1 will be fully reported m the Railway Review. You must not think ' that I am taking them all m. Mr Davidson (representing the Department) said -that for Mr McKie's' own sake he would give him an.apportunity to withdraw the statements. ;$ Mr.McKie said that he could^bring proof of what he s'tatejl. ; ';'<; j t '% \{: His. Honour: You are making a Very serious charge^: and I hop'e'Jit^MllJriot be allowed to rest at this Appeal Board. A charge like this is of tob; grave a character to make as an. advb-! cate s, statement. Your .charge /is 1 thai, engine-drivers are forced .to break the: regulations, and if they will not break the regulations they are removed from their positions. j, 1 Mr McKie : Quite so; we can prove that. • ,-.,., , His Honour: That is a statement I certainly would not believe unless'it was proved. ,',-..!. Mr Davidson said .Mr McKie had made a very wild statement, to which be would give a most-emphatic denial on behalf of the Department; '■ : -i