TRAMWAY SMASH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18308, 19 January 1920, Page 6

TRAMWAY SMASH.

THE WELLINGTON ACCIDENT

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 17. The inquiry into tho Pirio Street tramway smash was continued this morningD. M’Gillivray, tramway traffic manager, said ho was firmly of opinion that whatever happened to the motorman happened in an instant. There were times when a compulsory stop was an optional stop. There was an obligation on the conductor to see, in certain circumstances, that the car did stop at such places. In this caso the conductor had no opportunity of stopping tho car. That was what he believed- The conductor would have applied the hand brake had ho known that the motorman was clown. If a conductor knew of the failure of a motornian he would apply the hand brake at the rear of the car, provided he was not nearer the front end at the time. He considered that a complete provision in itself. The matter of additional precaution in the event of such cases would bo considered by tho Tramways Department. In 17 years’ experience bo had not come across a case of sudden seizure of a motorman- This was one case in millions.