OPEN INQUIRY URGED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 135, 10 June 1927, Page 5

OPEN INQUIRY URGED.

TIMARU RAILWAY SMASH.

(EXTRAORDINARY POSITION." OFFICIAL STORY XOT CREDITED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. j The "Star" in an editorial says:— ' The need for an open inquiry into the Timaru railway smash, becomes more apparent as the private inquiry proceeds. Here is the extraordinary position offered to the public of an inquiry in camera, whose business is to report to the Minister of Railways, issuing to the Press from day to day scrappy information which deserves no better description than the rather expressive Americanism, '"dope." The suggestion is being put out that a very simple explanation of the accident lies in the fact that some small boys were charged a month or so with putting stones on the line, and that a similar prank caused the derailment. If this were really true, the Department would be glad to "offer the fullest public inquiry. If its track and Tolling stock were in perfect order it would be re-as-euring to the public to know it, and it would be to the credit of the Department to make it known, but hardheaded railwaymen laugh at the suggestion that the derailment was caused by stones on the line. It has been suggested, indeed, that blasting operations on the face of the terrace on which the railway runs into Timaru have caused subsidences ■which led to the "spread" of the rail. Is the inquiry taking evidence on this subject in camera, or will it take evidence in regard to the inspection of the track, the state of the rolling stock, and so en? The Christchurch Mishap. The "Star" also comments on the fact that no suspensions have been made an connection with the collision of a ehunting engine with a crowded tram in Colombo Street on Tuesday. Nobody has been suspended in connection with the collision at the Colombo Street railway crossing on Tuesday morning when a shunting engine rammed and derailed a crowded tramway trailer, says the writer, every man directly or remotely connected with the accident is at his usual post to-day. Xobody can be suspended. The regulations do not provide for suspension except for drunkennese or trainrunning irregularity. It is understood that the enginedriver's explanation, of the accident has been tendered to the authorities, but no inquiry will be held, •nd wfiile disciplinary action may be taken, it is doubtful whether a statement will be made to the public regarding the collision or the steps that have 'been taken to prevent a recurrence of It.