SHUNTING DANGERS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2728, 10 July 1925, Page 4

SHUNTING DANGERS.

CONSTITUTION OP INQUIRY BOARD. THREE DEPARTMENTAL OFFICERS. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the house to-day, Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) brought up the matter of the Commission that has been appointed to / inquire into accidents to shunters. Ho asked if it was true that a board of inquiry had been sot up in disregard of the recommendations of the A.S.R.S. for an independent board, or a board composed of equal members of the Department and the Society. He asked if the board appointed consisted of the traffic manager at Wanganui, the assistant engineer at Auckland, and a shunter elected by the Minister. The Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates) said it was true that the board had been set up as stated. It was a board of three members, set up under the Railways Act. It was a Departmental inquiry not a public inquiry. No useful purpose would bo served by having a public inquiry, as it directly affected the railway men and what was wanted was representation with some technical, some traffic and some shunting knowledge. For that reason, it was thought wise that the representatives should be from the throe different sections of railway servants. The object was thoroughly to investigate the matter, in accordance with tire ten points in the order of reference, which covered every phase of the work. If they had set up a board or other than railwaymen. he doubted if that information would be forthcoming. What the Department wanted was to lesson the danger, increase the efficiency and make it easier for the men doing the work. There was no quarrel whatsoever with the A.S.R.S. The A.S.R.S., he added was certainly not managing the railways, but It would be given every possible consideration. , Mr. Sullivan; ‘‘They are very much interested in their lives, Mr Coates.’

“No more interested than I am,” retorted Mr. Coates, with some emphasis. "and no more interested than 13 the Department (hear, hear). Insofar as the Government and Ministers are concerned, no one is more interested or conc'ernod.” Mr. P. Fraser (Labour member for Wellington Central) muttered some remarks which were apparently disparaging, but they could not be heard in the press gallery, when Mr. Speaker called “Order, Order” Mr. Fraser persisting. Mr. Speaker threatened to name hini, thereupon Mr. Fraser subsided.