PUBLIC INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 155, 28 March 1938, Page 11

PUBLIC INQUIRY

Minister’s Statement On Train Smash COMMISSION TO BE SET UP Complete Investigation To Be Made Au announcement that he proposed to appoint a'Commission of Inquiry to make a complete investigation into the railway accident to the WellingtonNew Plymouth excursion train was made by the Minister of Railways, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, on Saturday. The Minister, who was at Nelson when he received advice of the disaster, extended his heartfelt sympathy to the relatives of the. killed and to the injured. . “A week-end excursion train left ' Wellington at 9.40 p.m. on Friday,” said the Minister. ‘‘The train was on a comparatively slow schedule and was due to arrive in New Plymouth at 7.11 a.m., on Saturday. The train consisted of an AB engine, six passenger cars, and a guard’s van. There were 198 passengers. The driver of the train was Mr. Edward Percival, the fireman was Mr. K. Millar, and the guard was Mr. White, all of Wellington. The driver was one of the Department’s first-class engine drivers and is the loco running men’s representative on the Appeal Board. “When the train was running between Ratana and'Wangaehu and approaching a down grade of one in 39, with several six-chain curves, the engine derailed and toppled over on to its side, taking with it the car immediately attached to it. The following cars ran past, the engine and the derailed car and telescoped, resulting in all the cars being derailed. ‘‘The accident happened in a rattier short cutting, the engine and the first car going to the left side of the line and coming to'- rest up against; the bank. The either cars fell on the righthand side of the line, telescoping and piling up on one another. Estimate Of Speed. , “The accident happened at 2.18 a.m. 1 A train had previously gone over the ' line in the opposite direction at about 12.35 a.m. There was good visibility ' for night time, and the guard states ; that in his opinion the speed was ap- . proximately between 20 and 25 miles j an hour. ‘‘The General Manager of Railways, Mr. G. H. Mackley, left Wellington for the scene of the accident immedi- J ately upon hearing the news, and .1 have been in telephonic communication with him this morning. The facts! as stated above are those given to me by the General Manager. Commission Of Inquiry. “It is not possible for me at tins stage to comment upon the cause of the accident, but I propose to set up . a Commission of Inquiry under * •Section 63 of the Government. Railways Act. to make a complete investigation. I propose that the ■' inquiry shall be public. and the commission will be set up at the ■ earliest possible moment. “I had intended returning to Wellington .by the boat this evening, but I now propose to. leave immediately by s aeroplane for Wiinganui and the scene of the disaster. “This tragic happening is a profound , shock to iifyself and to every railwayman. and 1 wish to extend to the. re- ‘ latives of those who have been killed t and to those who have been injured my heartfelt sympathy.” ■ k

OBSTRUCTIONS TWICE FOUND ON LINE

Incidents Last Year

STATEMENT BY GENERAL MANAGER

Ou two occasions obstructions, which might have derailed a train, had been found oil the railway line near where the accident occurred,

the General .Manager of Railways, •Mr. G. 11. .Mackley, stated iii an interview on Saturday! Police, he

uddbd, were investigating the possibility that the smash might have been wilfully caused.

"It may be only coincidence,” said Mr, Mackley, "but in February, 1937, in the locality where the accident occurred tills morning, a fish-plate and a dog-spike, both sufficient to derail a train, were found on the. railway. Again about six . months ago, another dog-spike was found wedged between the joints of two rails about half a mile from the scene of the accident. The culprit responsible has in neither case so far been detected.

"I am not suggesting at the moment that the accident was due to a similar cause, because our inquiries are as yet not, completed. . I cannot at this stage express any opinion as to the cause of the accident.”

POLICE CONTINUING INQUIRIES

Presence Of Obstruction Not '' Indicated

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, March 27.

Police are continuing their investigations into the cause of Saturday’s railway accident, but evidence at the moment does not suggest that the disaster was caused by the placing of an obstruction on the line. Less than an "hour before the accident happened a train passed over the line travelling in the opposite direction.

FUNERAL OF MRS. TULLOCK

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, March 27. There was a long cortege this afternoon at the funeral of Mrs. Hazel Doris Tullock, who had been married for only four months. The service was conducted at the Gonville Methodist Church by the Rev. C. AV. Brown. The Railways Department was represented by Mr. A. J. Pritchard, assistant district traffic manager, and included among a large number of wreaths was one from the Minister of Railways, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, and the General Manager of Railways, Mr. G. H. Mackley.