RAILWAY INQUIRY

Evening Star, Issue 19024, 20 August 1925, Page 3

RAILWAY INQUIRY

SHUNTING ACCIDENTS ALLEGED MASSING METHODS At the railway inquiry at Palmerston North yesterday. , Malcolm J. Firth, shunter, said the cause of the accident to Carmichael was a slack tail rope catching up the points lever. He detailed the attitude of the foremen in terms similar to the previous witness, Mr Mack: Do you think the harassing methods of the foreman caused him to take unnecessary risks? —Fes. Do you think that harassing by De Rosa was directly or indirectly contributory to the accident?—That is_ a hard question, but ail the same 1 think it did. Carmichael was excited at times when trying to get the work done, His anxiety in that respect made him do things that in other circumstances he would not have done. Ernest Lepper, who at the time of the tragedy was acting as brakesman, stated that he had been over five years in Palmerston North yards, and practically all that time on shunting. Ho corroborated the statement of the harassing and overbearing of Foremen Sweeney and De Rosa. Tne supply of hand lamps was bad. The drainage of the yards was defective, as water hung about two or three days sometimes. The points levers had not been painted for a long time. Better lighting of the yard was also required and would eliminate much of the risk of night work. ' Dr D. H, Bott expressed satisfaction at the attention received by deceased, whose case was hopeless from tiie first. Steps should bo taken to have the railway stretchers made to fit the ambulance. William White, fireman on tne engine, also gave evidence as to the cause of the accident and the disabilities' of the yard. Percy Edward Tapp stated that he had had six and a-liali years’ experience in the Palmerston North yards and was practically head shunter. Deceased was of a nervous disposition and easily excited. Foreman De Rosa had said ho would keep an eye on Carmichael, otherwise the latter would be killed. 'Witness stated he himself_ had had trouble with Sweeney and differences with De Rosa occasionally. There were also “Hatters” between the loremen themselves. After enumerating the deficiencies of drainage and lighting of the yards, witness said that trains were not reasonably marshalled nor were trucks even grouped._ There was not sufficient room for efficient work in the local yards, but witness advanced suggestions for their extension by the removal of sheds and the utilisation of spare land, so that extra tracks could ho laid.

In reply to the chairman, witness said that the supervision of the yards could be improved. Shifts should not : exceed eight hours, although ho adj mitted that they were infrequently extended to nine hours. _ Seven hours working hard, especially in the heat of summer, was long enough. The present system of the instruction of shunters could be much improved. The man j in charge of the gang had no time jto teach them. The new men were | merely “passengers,” and could be given a better insight into the work it an experienced man were told off Ito show him the different workings. Recruits were a source of anxiety, because they could not rely on them. ’To Mr Smith, witness stated that the yards often suffered inconvenience through promotion, and the transfer j of men acquainted with the local work- ! ing conditions was a. pity when the j men were used to the yard. He could not get promotion through the yard. ' Mr Mack: But when a man gets to I the stage tha t ho is too old lor his work, what are you going to do with him ?

Witness; My experience is that they are relegated to the platforms and finally the conveniences. Dir Smith: Shunters in one place opine that the foremen should be men of many years’ experience as shunters. Mr Mack; But suppose an Aucklander is appointed to Palmerston North, yon would have to start to teach him local conditions just when he was ready to be superannuated. Witness gave concise opinions on several technical matters presenting minor points of danger. Edmond O’Dca, a new shunter, after having been seven years a tablet porter, deposed that ho was not instructed in the work. 'Che foreman could give shunters a little more assistance than ha did.

]n reply to the chairman, witness denied that there was shunting experience at the tablet stations. Witness, detailing what ho deemed a proper course of instruction in shunting at Palmerston North, stated that before one was placed in a responsible position the second men should ho certified as efficient. Such a system would give all a chance before being proficient.