HYDE RAIL ACCIDENT

Grey River Argus, 17 December 1943, Page 4

HYDE RAIL ACCIDENT

MR SEMPLE’S STRICTURES LOCO MEN COMPLAIN WELLINGTON, Dec. 16. The Dunedin Branch of the Engine Drivers’, Firemen’s and Cleaners’ Association has passed a resolution criticising the Railways Minister, Mr R. Semple, for his Westport statement blaming the driver for the Hyde railway accident. Mr Semple, replying to the Dunedin railwaymen,, said that, from his long experience with trade union movements, h.e had yet to learn that it was one of the functions of a trade union to condone a crime and to take a Minister of the Crown to task, through the public press, when a matter had been dealt with by the Supreme Court, and also by an impartial Board of Inquiry, both of which m.ade it clear that the engine driver was responsible. Mr Semple said that he did not care who a man Was, if he were guilty of a crime against society, then the world ought to know it. Surely, the members of the Dunedin branch dfd not consider that it was the Minister’s duty to condone this crime. Mr Semple added that he was confident, knowing the officers of the association, that they would not stand for a resolution of this nature being passed by on e section of the membership. All that had been said at Westport was that the Railway Department was not responsible for the tragedy, but that it was due to the conduct of an individual whose name was not mentioned. Since members of th e Dunedin branch had thought fit to take him to task he felt in duty bound to give the facts of the case for the information of the public.