NOT "SAFETY FIRST"

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 8, 9 July 1931, Page 14

NOT "SAFETY FIRST"

A 6 JUDGE'S HORROR

MOTORMAN'S HEART

(By Telegraph.). < (Special to "The Eveninfl Post.")

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.

Horror at the thought that a tramway motorman, suffering from heart attack, might have been compelled to continue to drive his car because • there was nobody to relieve him was expressed by Mi'- Justice Frazer at the .Arbitration" Court yesterday, at the conclusion of tho ' caring of a compensation claim. His Honour also commented strongly on tlie Tramway Board's action in letting a motorman who had been off duty because of heart trouble resume work without a medical certificate that he was fit to do so.

Tho motorman concerned was Albert Ernest Moorhouse, who died at the end of his day's duty on 14th January last, and the case before the Court concerned a claim for compensation by his widow. Moorhouse had had to go off duty following heart trouble when he had been driving his tramcar on Bth December, and began work again for the first timo on the day of his death.

"The Tramway Board —the man's employers—presumably knew that ho had been away from work, and that ho had had previous trouble," said his Honour. "It does not seem right in the man's own interests, and in that of tho public, that they should have taken him back without having him examined. On the occasion of his earlier trouble there seemed to be some doubt whether he could be roleascd from duty, even though he was obviously in an ill condition. Ono is horrified at the thought of a man being required to carry out the responsible duties of a tramway motorman in such a state. It would bo far bottu'r to hold mi v. tramcar altogether."

- Mr. J. D. Hutchison, who appeared for tho board, said that Moorhouse had told the traffic manager that he was going to see his doctor, and the manager had then told him that he could not start until ho did so. The manager had taken it for granted that ho had obtained a doctor's permission.

His Honour: "That shows how risky it is to take things for granted. It would have been wiser to insist on a certificate."