RATANA SMASH

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 April 1938, Page 2

RATANA SMASH

TRAIN SPEED QUESTIONED [per press association.] WELLINGTON, April 26. The Ratana railway disaster inquiry was resumed at Wellington to-day. James Livingstone of Otaki, nurseryman, a .passenger said he was in the third carriage from the engine. About 2.10 he went into the lavatory vestibule to have a smoke. While there the train was gaining speed all the time. Something struck him that something was going to happen. He returned to his seat and said to his wife: “There is something going to happen here,” and as soon as he said that, the train went off the line. He was imprisoned in the carriage until lifted out through tlie roof. A man who appeared to be a foreman of the train came along. In conversation with this man—

Mr. G. G. Watson, representing the Engine Drivers’ Association, and the driver of the train, objected to a conversation with an unknown man being tendered as evidence. The difficulty was that matters of this kind were apt to go beyond the Commission, he said. Sir J. Frazer said he did not want to shut out anything that was valuable.

It was agreed that, members of the Court should first ascertain what, the witness intended saying, and witness was left with the members of the Court a few minutes for this purpose.

On returning, Sir J. Fraser said he thought witness’s general statement should be investigated. There were one or .two sections of it. the Court could reserve.

Witness said he asked the man if the engine driver was hurt, and the man said “yes.” The man said he was not the foreman but was riding in the cab. and he got thrown clear. Some time afterwards, in reply to witness, the man said that “She was going too fast and got away with him.” Later, the man came back alongside witness and collapsed. He heard him tell other passengers what he had previously told the witness. The man had suffered an arm injury. Witness did not see anything more of the man later.

To F. W. Aicken. representing the Railway Department, witness said the train was travelling pretty fast, when he left, the carriage and a. great lot faster when he returned. The train was rocking at a fast rate from side to side. He did not notice any application of the brakes before the carriage left the line. He was able to tell when a driver applied brakes. To a further question, he said he thought he would recognise the man he talked to. He said he did not have a cap on. and had lost, a shoe. He would be about sft. Gin. and rather thick set. wearing dungarees or overalls, and appeared to have a Scotch voice. He appeared perfectly sober to witness, but. excited, after the accident. The man’s wife and child were with him. The child was calling the man “daddy.”

To Mr. Watson, witness said he suffered fractured ribs and internal bruising’. Tie had not yet made a claim against the Department, but thought he should have some compensation. Further questioned, witness said it was after he left bis seat that the train gained speed. Tt gained speed for two or three minutes. Mr. Watson: If other travellers say that they felt what appeared to them to be the normal application of brakes before the accident, what would yon say to that? Witness: They did not appear to me to be applied until the train was off the line. He was not prepared io stare definitely that the brakes were not applied. He was prepared to contradict any passengers who said the train was travelling at ordinary slow speed.

To Mr. Watson, witness said he was unaware that detectives and the Railways Department had been unable to trace such a man as witness had described. Mr. Watson, reminded witness he had said the man stated he had been thrown clear to the left of the cab. Counsel, as a matter of comment, pointed out that the engine toppled over on the left side against the bank. Witness reiterated that the mail told him he was riding in the cab. This was as the result of witness's inquiries about the driver and fireman of the engine. The man was the only one he saw in dungarees, and he thought he should have been easily distinguishable to the police and Railways officials.

Mr. Watson: Can you offer any explanation as to why the police ana Railways officials did not see him?—-I can’t offer any reason why they didn't. Witness said he heard the man addressed as “Mac.” Mr Watson: Did he go on for two hours with one shoe on. helping to extricate passengers?—Yes. as far as I can see.

Mr. Watson asked that as the question of speed had* been raised, certain witnesses whom he named, be called. These passengers had made definite statements that the speed was not excessive, and had given reasons in support of that view.

£>ir J. Frazer said that arrangements could be made for them to be called. (Proceeding.)