TRAM CONDUCTOR'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19567, 21 February 1927, Page 14

TRAM CONDUCTOR'S DEATH

FOUND LYING ON ROADWAY. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. A verdict of accidental death was returned by the coroner, Mr. W. R. McKoan, at. the inquest .on Saturday concerning the death of Mr. James M. Slater, tramway conductor, in Anzac Avenue on the evening of February 11. J. E. Pollard, motorman, said his tram was bound from Great South Road to the city. No passengers alighted from or boarded the tram between Wellesley Street and the intersection of Anzac Avenue and Beach Road, but when he stopped at the latter place he found Mr. Slater was missing. He was later informed that the conductor was lying on the road near St. Andrew's Church, and upon investigation he found Mr. Slater in an unconscious condition. Death took place on the way to the hospital. There was no evidence showing how the conductor came to be injured. Police evidence was given that there were no signs of blood on a centre pole. Mr. R. H. Mackav, representing the tramway department, and Mr. W. D. Lysaght, an officer of the department, said all motormen and conductors were definitely instructed that signs were not to be ~ changed while a tram was in motion and that, on this particular route, the readjustment was to be made while stationary at a stopping point St. Andrew's Church. lliev said it was obvious that if the conductor was changing his sign he was doing so against instructions.