EXPLOSION INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 254, 23 July 1936, Page 11

EXPLOSION INQUIRY

Chief Inspector’s Theory of Accident CORONER’S FINDING By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 22. The opinion that some action of deceased resulted in the firing of a percussion cap and that the explosion occurred on account of the use of a typo of cap which had since been determined to be subject to explosion in the mass was expressed by Mr. R. M. GirlingButcher, chief inspector of explosives, when giving evidence at the inquest into the death of Patricia Marion Clif ford, aged 18, who was killed in an explosion in the Mount Eden factory of the Colonial Ammunition Company, Limited, on June 4. The inquest was continued before Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M. . M Various experiments comparing the caps in use with ordinary caps used for military ammunition were described by Mr. Girling-Butcher. These showed that whereas all the caps in use exploded in a body only very few of the military caps ignited. The result of the explosion showed that deceased must have been standing by the work bench, witness continued. It was not possible to determine the immediate cause of the ignition of the first percussion cap, but in his opinion most likely it was the striking of the percussion cap a glancing blow between two trays. “In my opinion the explosion occurred at the assembly bench and was due to some action by deceased which resulted in the firing of a cap,” he said. “Under normal conditions this would not have been followed by an explosion in the mass, the latter being due to the use of the type of cap which has since been determined to be subject to explosion in this way under all conditions.” Examined by Sub-Inspector Scott, witness said the class of caps involved had been imported practically only this year. They were not tested in England for safety and so came into the country without test. He had re ceived a cablegram from the High Commissioner stating that caps of this type had been imported into Britain from Germany without licence, as the manufacturers had given a certificate stating that they complied with the regulations. The High Commissioner said the matter was now being investigated. The caps certainly did not comply with British requirements, but they had been regarded as doing so. Had it not been for the accident witness would have been inclined to accept the certificate of the makers. A company of the standing of the Colonia] Ammunition Company was not in any fray to blame in assuming that the caps were of standard description, although there was of course a technical breach of the regulations as the caps did not comply with the British specification. “My duty is to find the cause of death and that is simple,” said Mr. McKean. “Death was due to multiple injuries caused by the explosion. It would be my duty also if there were any obvious defect, of neglect by the company, to refer to that. The company has been just as anxious as anyone to ascertain the real cause.” To ascertain exactly what happened was impossible, and one hqd to make certain assumptions” he said. Mr. Girling-Butcher had made a number of experiments and he had no reason for disagreeing with the concln sions reached. The explosion undoubtedly occurred when deceased was by the assembly bench. A number. of explosions had occurred in the machine when it was first installed and was being operated by the superintendent, but the trouble had been rectified before it had been handed over to a girl operator and it had since operated without trouble.

"I don’t think there was any defect in the machine, as after the explosion undischarged caps were found in each compartment of it,” he said. “It seems highly improbable that the explosion commenced in the machine.” The explosion could have been caused only by some slight accident in the hanctling of the trays containing the caps. It had been established now that the type of cap used was more sensitive than the company had been in the habit of using. They had been imported on the certificate of a reputable company, but it would appear they did not comply with the regulations. That did not mean they were unsafe to use, only that some different method of handling them must be devised. He could not find there had been any defect in the machine or plant of the company, nor did he think there was any want of care as far as the company -was concerned to see the employees were instructed. They knew there was a certain amount of danger and a warning was given to any employee whose duty it was to do work of ; this kind.”