HEATHCOTE TRAM SMASH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1706, 22 December 1919, Page 3

HEATHCOTE TRAM SMASH.

THE COMMISSIONER'S FINDING. CA.USES OF THF AtXIDKNT. 11l the. courßO of his finding in connection 'with the Ileatheotfl trnm smash-m Uinstchuroh lost Mav, particulars of which, wore published on Saturday, the Mi S IS McCarthv, S.M., answered the following .mentions set; out in the order ot reference:—(a) The train at the time of Uio derailniciifc' was travelling at an excessive rate of (peed. Trailer 58 did not pnpp the points imt split them owing to the presence of an obstn.cti.ig stone; (b) each carriage of the train was loaded beyond the limits of safety; (c) The. train was inadequately •mailned—at the time of the accident it had onlv one conductor—it should have had three- "(d). There was not an- eflectivo system of signalling and this defect was a factor contributing to the overturning o trailer No. 58; (e) The tramway track and permanent: way were, apart from the defects indicated, in good order; '(f) Ihe tunc aPowcd bv the time-table for the Uirist-ehurch-Sumuer section is insufficient if the motornuni is compelled to maintain an even speed of four .miles an hour when passing through the. points and to make the.• cus* tomary stops, and reduction of speed; (g) The accident was partly due to tlie negligence of thoi niotorman in driving 'at an excessive, rate of speed,. partly .to the presence of a stone ill the points, which presence might have been unknown to the motormnn when approaching them, and Ofirtly to the overcrowding, undcrmuiinmg, and an ineflicient signal system; (hj) There are no other causes'which will account lor the accident. Included among the recommendations is the following: 1 would suggest that each car be licensed to carry a definite number of sitting and standing passengers, the latter- to be located in aisles at the discretion' of the conductor and tlie mirnber licensed to 'bo printed in a conspicuous place on each vehicle. The Commissioner cannot recommend the cancellation of the motormun's license and concludes: In my opinion the Board is more cul liable than he.