RECENT ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22443, 2 July 1938, Page 16

RECENT ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAY

LACK OF DISCIPLINE GIVEN AS CONTRIBUTORY CAUSE

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, July 1,

That lack of discipline throughout the service was a contributory factor to the recent railway accidents was contended by Mr W, P. Endean (National. Parnell) during the Address in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives, to-day. His remark was received with cries of dissent from the Government benches. Mr Endean referred to a statement made by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) that rolling stock had been allowed to get into disrepair during the term of office of the previous Government. He challenged the Minister for Railways (the Hon. D, G. Sullivan) to produce any evidence that a requisition for repairs ttad ever been refused. "There is an entire lack of discipline in the railway service,” he said, “and that has been one of the contributing factors to the recent accidents.” Mr Sullivan: That is a deliberate libel on the whole railway service. “I am prepared to believe it,” said Mr Endean. “It is only part of the appalling conditions that exist at present in the railway service, and railway losses are another factor in the many which will eventually drive New Zealand into bankruptcy.”