SHUNTING ACCIDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 190, 13 August 1925, Page 16

SHUNTING ACCIDENTS.

THE PALMERSTON FATALITY. SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS MADE. CORONER RECOMMENDS PUBLIC INQUIRY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., Wednesday. An inquest was held to-day by Mr. firaham, coroner, into the death of Thomas Cnrmicliacl, a shunter, who died (in August :i from injuries received the same day while engaged in shunting in the local railway yard. Witnesses of the accident alleged that two of tho foremen were incompetent, that one of then) was in the habit of harassing the men continually, with the result that deceased, who was of an excitable nature, became agitated and therefore unable to do his work properly. Evidence was given that shunters who had not been properly trained were engaged in dangerous work without ex|icriencc. resulting in a menace to themselves and others in the yards. Cine witness said that for the past two years he had been endeavouring to secure a public inquiry into the conditions of shunting at Palmerston North, but the union would not give evidence behind closed doors. Several witnesses alleged that Carniichael was incompetent, yet he had been made second shunter, and was told he would soon be fit for the position of head of the shunting gang. One of the shunter.- who was working with deceased at the time of the siecident said that since then, at his own request, he had been reappointed porter, as he deemed it unsafe to work in the yard under existing conditions. Evidence was also given of delay in pi-curing medical assistance and tin , fact that deceased lay for some lime in an exposed ticket lobby awaiting the ambulance, whi'-h the station stretchers would not fit, cau.-ing further delay vhile a stretcher was obtained. It was admitted by both side-; thai the men were not trained ir. lirst aid work, and therefore none was given to deceased. A doctor said deceased would have had a better chance of surviving if he had been kept warm and been rendered lir't aid. The coroner commented on the number of like accidents in tin . Dominion, not entirely due to the carelessness of the men, and stated that the unre.st and anxiety in the service were not to be wondered at. It appeared Unit the tern was radically wrong somewhere. He suggested a general public inquiry into shunting conditions, with particular reference to Palmerston Xorth. The coroner commented also on the lack of first aid knowledge and delay in summoning medical assistance. He observed that the coaching foreman in charge of the station at the time of the accident appeared to show some lack of regard for the injured man, and wore for, the Department.