AN UNFENCED LINE

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 August 1920, Page 3

AN UNFENCED LINE

— - IN MAIMAI DISTRICT AGITATION BY RESIDENTS. The following is a copy of a letter forwarded to Mr. R. P. Hudson, M.P. for Motueka by Mr. J. McElwee, on behalf of the residents of Maimai (Reefton). The letter is self-explana-tory:— Dear Sir.—Yours containing the Departmental replies of the 14th inst.", re fencing and siding were duly received for which I thank you. The contents thoroughly satisfied me that the Minister and others heads are only time-stalling. Perhaps the accident that occurred at Mawheraiti last Tuesday 24th inst.,. will be a more demonstrative argument in favour of the fencing than any I have previously produced. The 7 a.m. the down train from Reefton to Greymouth containing the usual passengers ran into a drover's mob of sheep and killed fortythree of them. This happened on a portion of the unfenced line we have so long been agitating to have fenced and which Mr. Massey last December promised to do. This accident occurred on a down grade, cutting, leading to a high embankment, and bridge spanning the Little Grey River Fortunately there would probably be a great catastrophe to record. One can easily imagine what the result it an engine and carriages containing passengers toppling over a steep embankment would be. Such a fortunate ending as the Prince had could hardly be expected. As stated in previous letters to you on the subject tlie fencing of the MawheraitiReefton line has been agitated for, for years and I think in the event of loss of human life occurring (animal does not count) as the result of the Government's neglect the public would be justified in regarding those responsible as murderers. If"the public once realised the probabilities of an accident on this .line they would soon force the authority's hands. Only ordinary brakes (no Westinghouse) are used and their inefficiency in time of emergency was well shown on the above mentioned occasion. The drover told me he considered the engine driver entirely blameless for he thought as soon as the driver saw the sheep he did his best to pull up. Trusting your efforts will be more successful in the future than in the past and thanking you in anticipation.