City Council Lax In Storing Petrol Under Grandstand

Northern Advocate, 7 October 1941, Page 4

City Council Lax In Storing Petrol Under Grandstand

[Per Press Association.—Copyright] DUNEDIN, This Day.

Comment that the City Corporation had shown laxity in allowing petrol to be stored under the main grandstand at Logan Park was made by the coroner (Mr. H. W. Bundle, S.M.), at the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Thomas Walter Ford, aged 29, whose remains were found in the debris of a fire which destroyed the grandstand on the morning of Sunday, September 14. The evidence of 10 witnesses was heard and the coroner found that deceased had died from asphyxia and shock in an accidental fire. Body In Debris John Knox, caretaker at the park, described how following the fire he and a detective examined a body which was found in the debris. It was lying in what had been a petrol store room. Witness said that when he left the building on the previous night all the doors were securely locked. There was no trace of fire in the building. Other evidence related to the identity and movements of deceased and to the practice of storing petrol under the grandstand in a 44-gallon drum. After the coroner had given his formal verdict, he “There is one aspect of the matter which I think it proper for the court to mention. Should Set Example ’“lt behoves the City Corporation as licensing authority under the Explosives and Dangerous Goods Act to show an example in the storage of dangerous goods, which include petrol. There seems to have been considerable laxity in storing petrol in the grandstand, which at times is occupied by a large number of people. “Since the matter has been brought under the notice of the corporation by the police it is not likely that there will be a recurrence and any further storage of petrol will no doubt be carried out in a proper manner.” Detective-Sergeant Hall, who represented the police, said he had been given to understand that there would be no further trouble of that kind.