WORKER'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22975, 1 March 1938, Page 14

WORKER'S DEATH

RUN OYER BY TRUCKS STATEMENT AT INQUEST ATTITUDE OF DEPARTMENT COUNSEL'S ALLEGATIONS [from our own coitrespondent] Hamilton, Monday A dramatic opening marked the inquest commenced in the Police Court to-day into the death of William Graham McAlister, a railway worker, who died from injuries received when lit 1 fell under a rake of trucks in the Railway Department's sandpit at Agaruawahia on February 1.

Mr. A. L. Tompkins, who appeared for the widow of deceased, said he had been refused permission by officials of the Railway Department to interview members of the gang with whom McAlister was working at the time of his death. He asked the coroner, Mr. S. L. Paterson. S.M., to exclude from the Court the members of the gang who were to give evidence, his reason for this request being that lie wished to investigate the possibilities of securing further compensation for .Mrs. McAlister. '"Jt seemed a remarkable action for a department of State to take, but I was told by the Inspector of Permanent Ways that the only opportunity I would have of speaking to members of the gang would be at the inquest," said Mr. Tompkins, "and for this reason I would ask Worship that members of the gang do not hear each other's evidence." Letter Produced "If the Railway Department adopted such an attitude, it was a highly improper one," the coroner said. A statement that Mr. Tompkins had some of his facts wfong was then made by Mr. H. T. Gillies, representing the Railway Department. Mr. (allies said -Mr. Tompkins had received a telephone message from the department inform-1 ing him that he was at liberty to interview the men outside working hours. Jn reply to this statement Mr. Tompkins, under strong protest from Mr. Gillies, handed the coroner a letter which he received from the Railway Department forbidding him to see the men and stating that every member of the gang had been instructed to say nothing. Mr. Gillies again pointed out that Mr. Tompkins had been informed by telephone that he could see the men. Mr. Tompkins: Yes, but the letter was received by me after the telephone call. Coroner's Comment "This letter is very definite, Mr. Gillies," said the coroner. "1 will grant Mr. Tompkins' request and instruct those members of the gang who are to give evidence to leavo the Court." Hubert Stevens, assistant engineer of the Railway Department, said that the Ngaruawahia sandpit was controlled by the department's Auckland office. Witness described the method of I applying the brakes on a truck, and ■ said it was perfectly safe for a man of experience to jump from a truck to the ground. In reply to a question by Mr. W. J. King, who appeared for the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, witness said that deceased had had 12 months' experience and was a very careful man. Richard Leonard Gilbert Knighton, who was in charge of the gang the morning McAlister was killed, said he was standing on the left-hand side of about the eighth truck. Deceased was standing behind witness on about the 12th truck. When the rake of trucks started to move off witness looked, 1 round and saw deceased about four: trucks behind him. The trucks soon | gained a. speed of a little more than I 1 walking pace. t j - Application of Brakes i Witness jumped off and applied a i brake and then went to mount the truck again. As he did so he looked round and saw McAlister lying across the rails. Witness at once gave the order for the rake to be stopped and the brakes were applied. About 16 trucks went over deceased before the rake was brought to a standstill. There] was ample room beside the trucks for I a man to jump off. Witness thought \ that in applying the brakes deceased j might have slipped and been thrown ! ; down on to the rails. Witness considered i, tjbat deceased was the most reliable j' and active man in the gang. After the i ] accident there were at least 16 brakes ; i applied. Witness did not consider that j i the speed of the trucks was a factor in the accident. ~ , , The inquest was adjourned until to- j morrow. i