"NOT THE WORST."

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18460, 14 August 1925, Page 11

"NOT THE WORST."

PALMERSTON NORTH SHUNTING YARDS.

PUBLIC ENQUIRY PROMISED. (SPECIAL TO "TEE P.BESS. ') WELLINGTON, Augi-n 13. Shunting fatalities were again the i subject of reference ill the House today. Mr J. A. Nash (Paitr.ersi.on North) raised the question by asking the Prime Minister if lie had seen what the coroner at the inquest on Iho mas C'arrr.ichaei had said. Mr Nash said the Palmerstcn yards were absolutely the worst, in New Zealand. The Prime Minister replied that hedid riot know the coroner or \vhetber that official was an e~peri- in the matters on which he had expressed an opinio)!, but the statements were such that notice would have to be taken of them. He proposed to arrange for the Board of Enquiry which had been set ut) immediately to visit Palnierston North arid take evidence publicly. Mr 0. "W. Forbes: Why not make all the enquiries public" The Prime Minister said he did not think thai was necessary, and, moreover. much of the matter to lx> en-' quired into was technical. He knew the yard was congested and that it was a bad ore. but it v\'ns not the worst in New Zealand. The Department was now endeavouring to get the most modern vard the human brain could devise. Ideas were being worked out now. and as soon as they were ready the sm-veyors could go ahead. Mr 11. Masters: If you are having a public enquiry 'in regard to Palnierston North, why not have a public enquiry at all the places? The Prime Minister said that if there was any good reason, public enquiries would be held. What he was anxious about was that the reconimendalions of the Board would be of use to the Department for the future. He did not know that public enqu'ries would really get them anywhere. What he waited to .sec was a solution discovered.