SHUNTING ACCIDENTS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 50, 27 August 1925, Page 15

SHUNTING ACCIDENTS

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE

AN AMENDMENT DEFEATED.

The prevalence of shunting accidents was referred to by several speakers in the House of Representatives yesterday.

When the Eailway Estimates were under discussion, Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) moved an amendment that the total vote should be reduced by £4 as an indication that more effective provision should be made to safeguard the men employed on shunting. He appealed to the House on humanitarian grounds to support the_ amendment. Mr. H. Poland (Ohinemuri) contended that a public inquiry should be made into the shunting accidents." The public were thoroughly roused on the question

Mr. H. Atmore (Nelson) wanted to know -whether the increase in the number of deaths was due to the speeding up of the trains. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. G. W. Forbes), who supported the amendment,, protested against the inadequacy of a departmental inquiry being made into shunting conditions. The inquiry should be public. Mr. A. L. Monteith (Wellington East) said a departmental inquiry only amounted to officials sitting in judgment on officials. That was not fair to the officials. He hoped the Minister would grant a public inquiry and thus restore public confidence. Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranafci) urged that a public "inquiry should be made at New Plymouth, where the yard was very badly lighted. Mr. Coates said he had no objection to the inquiry board conducting its investigations in public at New Plymouth. Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) said he had heard that since the strike an instruction had gone forth to tighten up the discipline. That might have led to accidents occurring. At any rate, the matter should be inquired into publicly. The amendment was defeated by 31 votes to 26.