RISKS OF SHUNTERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 8 September 1925, Page 5

RISKS OF SHUNTERS.

THE PALMERSTON NORTH INQUIRY.

(UY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION

PALMERSTON N.- Sept. 7. The shunting' inquiry ..was continued

to-day. The department ’s , representative called Detective-Sergeant Quirke, who deposed to investigations: of loss' of,, goods from railway sheds . at, various times. The- police would have been helpless without the assistance of the foremen," and of Foreman Sweeney particularly. •' . * '• Signalmaiv Geo; Newton gave .technical evidence and suggested improvements to the yards. . Tlie last witness to-day was John Joseph O ’Shea, . stationmast.er,. who a■£ said the deceased:, shunter Carmichael was above ~the ordinary intelligence and would not allow foremen to harass him without protest. None had been made to witness. Foreman Derosa, in witness’ opinion, w,as in,no way respon-. -. sible for the fatality. ' After careful inquiries lie was unable to find evidence of any shunter .being - killed at Palmerston; North .for 25-; years prior to the two recent fatalities..' It was incorrect for one. previous witness to state that an average of 4000 waggons went through the yard daily. The exact average was .1-163. • ■ Witness always, gladly, received. re : commendations and had told .the men lie- would .adjust local matters’ if possible; otherwise, lie would refer them to the district manager. He believed the reason for the attitude of tlie staff at present was their, losing tlie 44-hour ' week and extra night rates. At.no station except Wellington on special occasions were there three qualified men in a gang. Witness admitted two com. plaints from shunters- about the harassing methods of the foremen. An interesting test was made at the yards during the day, when it was found that a rake of waggons with one brake attained a speed of IS miles an hour. This was made as a test of the statement of Foreman-Sweeney that in such circumstances a shunt could not attain a speed of more than three miles an hour, and of various other ' witnesses that 25 miles could be reached. ;• a,. The inquiry was adjourned.