MERULLA DISASTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19452, 7 October 1926, Page 11

MERULLA DISASTER.

THE INQUEST CONTINUED. STATEMENT OF A WITNESS. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. (Reed. 12.35 a.m.) SYDNEY. Oct. 6. When giving evidence at the inquest concerning tho deaths which occurred in the Murulla railway disaster, a witness said he saw a man handling the body of a woman, as if ho was removing a ring from her finger. When remonstrated with the man said he was laying tho body out. Witness said he believed him and did not take any further action. Two railway officials were appointed to guard tho bodies and seo that they were not robbed. Mr. E. A. Chapman, secretary of the Australian Railways Union, stated in Sydney recently that the demand for an inquiry into the whole system of railway working had been accentuated by tho Murulla disaster. Every aspect of the Murulla accident, he said, should be thoroughly investigated ■by an independent board of inquiry vested with authority. " The inquiry cannot finish by reference to the Murulla smash alone; Murulla is but the climax, said Mr. Chapman. "A complete overhaul is necessary. Every phase of railway activity must receive the keenest scrutiny. Ino cry of ' economy ' must not be permitted to retard the introduction of an efficient and modern transport system. Much of the rolling stock in use is in a very bad state. Passenger coaches in many instances are a positive disgrace. The permanent way has on occasions been shown to be defective, yet when specific instances have been quoted, the commissioners have denied the existence of such defects, despite the fact that sections of the track had been examined by union organisers in person. '' Tho workshops are ill-equipped, and tho bonus system in operation in several departments is responsible _ for much ' scamping * of work, which is ienectcc.l in many of tho difficulties experienced on the road. Sufficient has been said to justify tho setting up of an independent tribunal, such as tho union has urged upon the Government repeatedly. Tho union is neither seeking scalps—although changes are necessary and long overdue —nor is it acting tho part of scaremonger. In tho interest of its members, the general body of employees, and the travelling public we want a public inquiry."