MERCER SMASH

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 November 1940, Page 2

MERCER SMASH

INQUIRY CONCLUDED [per press association.] AUCKLAND, November 29. The inquiry into the derailment of the north-bound Limited express n6 ar Mercer on the morning of October 2o ended to-day. . > ... . Sir Francis Frazer presided, with Professor S. E. Lamb and Mr. F. W. Furkert as members of the commission. . Arnold Miller Keith, storeman and packer, who was a passenger on the Limited when the accident occurred, said that though the train travelled faster from Frankton to Mercer than on any other part of the journey from Wellington, its speed did not cause him any concern. He cbuld not remember whether or not he. heard a blast from the train whistle just before the accident. The train gave a sudden jerk, and then another, and more pronounced jerks. There was a sudden rip along the side of the train, windows and seats being smashed. Witness suffered a few cuts about the face from glass, and a bruise on a leg. Cross-examined, he said there were one or two bad jerks before the accident. At the conclusion of the evidence counsel for the various parties addressed the board.

“The predominant suggestion seems to be that the train entered a curve at a speed in excess of that in which the curve could be safely negotiated, ’ said Mr. G. P. Finlay, representing the Engine-drivers’, Firemen’s and Cleaners’ Association, in his submission. He added that the driver was not frequently on the route, and suggested that there might have been more timely notice of the bend. Mr. Finlay also stressed the necessity for providing some sort of recording speedometer to tell the driver at what speed he was driving. “The association also feels the need for the allowance of a longer time for the journey between Auckland and Wellington,” added Mr. Finlay. “It is not a good thing for a train crew to think there is any pressure on them for speed. It is better for the public to leave Auckland half an hour earlier and arrive in Wellington safely than not to get there at all, even if it only happens once in 10 years.” While the association accepted in some measure the fact that speed was the cause of the accident, it emphatically did not accept that either the engine-driver or the fireman was necessarily to blame for the speed. Mr. N. S. Johnson, of Hamilton, who represented the relatives of McCubbin, the engine-driver, submitted that the speed was not excessive. He submitted that even if the speed was regarded as excessive, McCubbin was not negligent, having regard to all the. circumstances. Representing the Railways Department, Mr. V. R. Meredith submitted that ’no suggestion could be made against the condition of either the permanent. way or the rolling stock. It was abundantly clear on the evidence that all causes were eliminated other than excessive speed on a curve. The chairman intimated that the Board would devote the early part of next week to the preparation of its report, which would be forwarded to the Minister for Railways (Mr. D. Sullivan), who would release it in due course.