Tramway Regulations Hinder Police

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7065, 26 January 1933, Page 7

Tramway Regulations Hinder Police

CRITICISM BY CORONER

Per Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 25. At the inquest concerning tho death of a girl who was knocked down by a tram, the Coroner, Mr. Mosley, made several references to the difficulty the police had had in thoir work through tho refusal of a tramway employee to explain his part in the accident. He criticised the Tramway .Board regulation which prevented an employee from saying anything: “I cannot understand why there should bo such a rule,” said the coroner. “Surely it is. unwise for a public body to hinder the polico iu this way. There should be no concealment.” Counsel for the board, Mr. Hutchison. explained that there was no intention to conceal anything. A tramway rulo would not allow officials to make any statement to anybody. Jfj tho manager had been approached, tho matter would have been smoothed out. “I think the polico were right in not going to the manager,” said Mr. Mosley. “They have the right to the information.”

Before questioning the motornmn Mr. Hutchison referred to the fact that tlic motorman had made .no statement to the police. He said it was a purely unfortunate occurrence.

The Coroner : It seems to be an extraordinary attitude to take up and most undesirable from tho public point of view.

Senior-Sergeant Pox said that, as tho result, tho police had been left in the air and unable to investigate the motorman’s side of the story. t “That means that tho most imDortant evidence from tho Coroner’s point of view is lost and tlm justice are not mety” commented the Coroner./