THE GLENTUNNEL ACCIDENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14979, 27 April 1909, Page 6

THE GLENTUNNEL ACCIDENT.

The inquiry into, the circumstances attending the death of John Doyle was thoroughly comprehensive, and tho public, we think, have reason to ho satisfied with the result. There was no suggestion that the unfortunate incidents that occurred while Doyle was being conveyed from Glentunnel to the Christchurch Hospital hastened his death, but it was suggested that bettor arrangements could bo made for the handling of injured persons on the railway lines, and one outcome of the inquest, ft seems, will be that ambulance stretchers will in future he carried on all trains. There Us no necessity to undertake a review of the evidence here, because tho facts elicited were substantially as wo stated them before the inquest. Tho Railway Department was not oil its defence, alhough ono of its officers appeared to think that we had made charges against it. As a matter of fact, wo wore careful to say that we did not blame the Department and that our only purpose in referring to the matter was to obtain a full official investigation, so that painful episodes of the kind might be avoided in tho future. If tho Coroner was not disposed to lay blame on anyone’s shoulders we certainly shall not accept the responsibility of singling out any individual for censure. With regard to tho late arrival of the ambulance van at tho Addington Railway Station, a valid explanation seems to bo afforded by the fact that extensive alterations are in process at the' station, and w© need not discuss that matter further. The Ambulance Association has undertaken to send a quali-

fiod bearer with tho van. in future, so that in this respect, again, a valuable reform lias been achieved. The public, therefore, have reason to bo, grateful to the Coroner for the thoroughness of the inquiry, and for our own part we aro content ,to know' that the objeot we had in view in asking for a comprehensive investigation has been achieved.