AVIATION ACCIDENT INQUIRY

Evening Star, Issue 22684, 25 June 1937, Page 1

AVIATION ACCIDENT INQUIRY

WHY PROCEEDINGS WERE PRIVATE OBTAINING ALL FACTS AND PROTECTION OF WITNESSES [Pbr United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 24. The reasons for the inquiry into the aviation accident at Big Bay on Decomher 31 ■ being- held in private were explained by ; the Minister of Defence (Hon. P. Jones), in a statement to-i night. He said -the question had been carefully considered, and it was felt that the full facts concerning an accident could best be ascertained by taking the proceedings in private. His only concern was to see that, in the public interest, the full facts were ascertained, and that in doing so no one was placed in an unfavourable position because he was required to give evidence. Referring to the Press Association message from Invercargill concerning the application by counsel for the Air Department that the inquiry be held in private, Mr Jones said that so far as he himself or the department was concerned there was no reason why the inquiry should not be public. The matter had been very carefully considered, both by himself and by the Air Board, and it was considered that, as the interest of aviation in New Zealand must be the paramount consideration, the full facts concerning an, accident could best be ascertained by a private inquiry. A Board of Inquiry was not in the same position as an ordinary court in that it was to make recommendations only and was not empowered to impose penalties, such as was the case, for example, in a marina inquiry. “ As the application by counsel and the subsequent discussion "had been very fully reported,” said the Minister, “ I think it is fair to add that my only reasons for requesting a private inquiry were: (1) To enable all possible evidence as to the cause of the accident to be procured, so that action can be taken to see that similar accidents of the same kind may ba avoided in future. (2) That no party to the inquiry, such as the pilot of the machine, should possibly have his standing as a pilot impaired because of the fact that he is required to give evidence at the inquiry. “ I feel that a Board of Inquiry such as this, which is to investigate and report on the accident and to include in its report observations and recommendations with a view to the preservation of life' and the avoidance of similar accidents in future, should be afforded the opportunity of obtaining possession of all the relevant facts from witnesses. As soon as the report of the board has been received and considered a full statement will bo issued to the public.”