SHUNTERS’ RISKS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 27 August 1925, Page 5

SHUNTERS’ RISKS

INCREASE IN ACCIDENTS

MEMBERS ASK QUESTIONS

PUBLIC INQUIRY DEMANDED. (By Telegraph—Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 27. Appealing to the humanitarian sentiment of the House to support his amendment, Mr Sullivan early to-day moved a reduction in the railway estimates to indicate that more effective provision should be made for the safety of shunters. . , Mr Poland declared that he would not be doing his duty -unless he voted to strongly show the necessity for greater precaution, in view of the fact that nine men had been killed since May. Nothing would satisfy him but a public inquiry. He know that guards of mixed trains which had to shunt in the dark at wayside stations were ’ailed to account if, in their anxiety for safety, they delayed the train. Mr Atrnore asked the Minister to explain the reason for the sudden increase in the number of .fatalities. Was it due to speeding up? Mr Forbes declared that something more than a departmental inquiry was needed. Mr Monteith said that Wellington shunters complained of having to work 10 hours, with 20 minutes for meals. He hoped the Prime Minister realised liis responsibility. Mr Smith asked for a public inquiry into the shunting fatality at New Ply mouth. Mr Coates: “I have no objection at all.” Mr Veitch urged the Government not to wait for the shunting inquiry, report, hut to immediately do what was obviously needed. Big vards, where electricity was available, should be better lighted, and overtaxed yards should, he better staffed. The records should be carefully searched to see if there had been any instructions to tighten up discipline since the strike, which would tend to make shunters more anxious. On a division the National members voted with Labour, but the amendment was defeated. UiV • TELEGRAPH. CRESS ASSOCIATION.. WELLINGTON, Aug. 26. The dangers of shunting work on the railways -were emphasised in the House to-night .during the discussion on the Railway Statement.' The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr H. E. Holland) detailled a -tragic last of fatal accidental, to shunters within a few months, these including three accidents at Palmerston within one month, two of. which were fatal. Shunters were speeded up by foremen, foremen Oy station-masiters and station-masters by the department, the idea being to get the maximum, work at the minimum. of expense, with the result that men paid first with their lives. Ho said the inquiry at Palmerston North showed that men were put oil this dangerous chanting work without any special training and tint one inexperienced and exerted slumber was. killed because when bo was speeded up he would work ■ regardless of the risk. O-ng man, it had been stated, was threatened because ha refused to pass through a train moving at twenty liiiias an hour. The attention of the department to the danger ,caused by bad lighting and congestion had been pointed out by a conference of. railway men lat Dunedin in June last, but the conditions had not been remedied. It was painted out that if a shunter became imeaipaoiitalted by accident or sickness lie received only half pay, while the first division men, consisting of inspectors, clerks, etc., received full pay. the report of 1914 iiaci forecasted tire increased dangers of shunting owing to the growing congestion in these yards, but apparently very -lit.tle notice had been taken by the department of - thus warning. Mr. Holland expressed the hope that the Minister would inform the House that the whole of the conditions in these dangerous yards would be changed without delay. In his opinion the whole of the inquiry by -the board now .investigating shunting should -be open to the press. The Hon. D. Budtlo (Kaiapo-i) supported the remarks by the Leader of the Labour Party on the subject of the risk to shunters. He contended, that it railway yards were properly lighted at night the danger would be greatly minimised