INVESTIGATION REQUIRED

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 143, 15 June 1909, Page 4

INVESTIGATION REQUIRED

There will undoubtedly be a departmental inquiry into the sensational collision at the Blenheim station yesterday, and in view of this fact comment must be restricted. The accident is much to be regretted, ana cordial sympathy will naturally be extended to those who have sustained injury. How a very much greater catastrophe was avoided is probably due to the ready resource of the driver of the Seddon engine, who, seeing the danger, got his train in motion, and thus reduced the force of the impact. The offending' train was evidently out of hand, and it will be the duty of those who will investigate matters to ascertain how it came about that it rushed into the station at such a speed. Various explanations are alleged, some plausible enough, but a searching inquiry is needed in order that the real reason may be clearly demonstrated, and nothing short of this will satisfy the public. Inquiry is also demanded into the general conduct of railway affairs in Blenheim. It will be seen from the statements published that while the heads of firms doing business with the railways make no complaints, those whose duty it is to come directly into contact with the officials tell a very different tale. One or two have spoken out boldly and fearlessly, while others, of whom it is alleged they could also "a tale unfold" if they cared to speak, evidently think that silence is golden. Now, however, is the time to make grievances known if it is desired to remedy them. Nothing ■ can be gained by a policy of silence, which can only be construed into a dread of speaking for fear of reprisals. The investigation that is bound to be made provides the opportunity for remedying the defects now so much; in evidence, and if those who have suffered from lax control, bad discipline and incivility, which they allege is their frequent experience, decline now to v,oice their troubles, then they deserve, to continue to suffer.. ■