SHUNTERS’ RISKS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 20 August 1925, Page 9

SHUNTERS’ RISKS.

BOARD OF INQUIRY. CONDITIONS AT PALMERSTON. (BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.) PALMERSTON N., Aug. 19. Further evidence was taken at the Shunters’ Inquiry Board at P'aimerston North this 'afternoon. Malcolm J. Firth, shunter, who had charge of the engine at the tome of the accident, said the cause of the fatality was a slack tail rope catching in the points lever. He detailed the attitude of the foreman in terms similar to tlie previous witness. Mr. Mack : Do you think the harassing methods of the foreman caused him to take unnecessary risks ?—Yes. Dou you think that harassing by De Rosa was directly or indirectly con tributory to the accident? —That is a hard question, but, all the same, .1 think it did. Carmichael was excited at times when trying to get work done. His .anxiety in that respect made him do things that in other circumstances he would not have done.

Ernest Lepper, who at the time of the tragedy was acting .as brakennan, stated that he had been over five years in Palmerston yards, and practically all itha,t time on shunting. He corroborated the statements of harassing and overbearing methods by foremen Sweeney and Do Roi*a. The supply of hand lamps was bad, and drainage of the yards, also. Water hung >. about two or three days. Sometimes points levers had not been painted for a long time. Better lighting of the yard was also required, and would eliminate much of the risk of night work. Dir D. H. Bett expressed satisfaction at the attention received by deceased,. whose case was hopeless from the first. Steps would be taken to have railway stretchers made to fit the ambulance.

Percy Edward Tapp stated that he had 6} years’ experience in Palmerston North yards, and! was practically head shunter. Deceased was of a nervous disposition and l easily excited. Foreman De Rosa had said he had to keep an eye on Carmichael otherwise the latter would {have been! killed. Witness istated that he himself had had trouble "with Sweeney and differences with De Rosa occasionally, and there had also been “flutters” between the foremen themselves.

At the inquiry this morning further evidence was given by employees concerning shunting conditions at the Local yard. i Percy Hialrtliaind, (A-shistfanti-Diiisltirfi'Clb Traffic Manager at Wellington, said that De Rosa bad given every satisfaction at Frankton, where he had previously been foreman. Ais far as he knew, De Rosa performed hi 9 work here satisfactorily.' Other evidence was adduced to show how the yard could ibe made safer for working.