ACCIDENTS TO SHUNTERS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18430, 10 July 1925, Page 8

ACCIDENTS TO SHUNTERS.

I THOROUGH INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE. (srECIAL TO '"THE MESS.") AYELLINGTON. July 0. In tho House of Representatives today, Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon), brought up the matter of tho Commission that has been appointed to enquire into accidents to shunters. He asked if it was true that a Board of Enquiry had been set up in disregard of tho recommendations of tho A.S.R.S. foi an independent Board, or a Board composed of an equal number of members of the Department and the Society. He asked if the Board appointed consisted of tho Traffic Manager at Wanganui, the Assistant Engineer at Auckland, and a shunter elected by tho Minister. The Minister (the Hon. J. G. Coatcs) said it was true that the Board had been set up, as stated. It was a Board of tlireo members set up under tho Railways Act. It was a Departmental Enquiry, not a Public Enquiry. No useful purposo would oo served by having a public enquiry, as it directly affected railwaymen, and what was wanted was representation with some technical, some traffic, auu some shunting knowledge. For that reason it was thought wise that the representation should be from the three different sections iof railway servants. The object was thoroughly to investigate the matter in accordance with the ten points in the order of reference, which covered every phase of tho work. If they had sot up a Board ot other than railwaymen, ho doubted if that information would bo forthcoming. What the Department wanted was to lessen the danger, increase the efficiency, and make- it easier for the men doing tho worlc. There was no quarrel whatever with the A.S.R.S. The A.S.R.S., he added, were certainly not managing the railways, but they would ba given every possible consideration. Mr Sullivan: Thev are very ranch interested in their lives. "No more interested than I am, retorted Mr Coates, with some emphasis', "and no more interested than is the Department. (Hear, hears.) In so far as the Government and Ministers jlvc concerned, no one is more interested of conoerned. Mr P. Eraser (Labour member lor Wellington Central) muttered some remarks which were apparently disparaging, but could not bo beard in tho Press gallery, and Mr Sneaker called "Order, "Order." . Mr Eraser persisting, Mr Speaker threatened to name him. Thereupon Mr Fraser subsided.