RAILWAY ACCIDENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 14

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS

The fact that three railway accidents! involving passengers have occurred within two weeks is bound to raise questions in the public mind. It may be that the Railways Department has struck a bad run of luck. The liability to suffer from a malign succession is recorded in such old English proverbs as never rains but it pours," and "Misfortunes never come singly." On the ether hand some fault in organisation may have developed that needs correcting. This supposition receives support from j,the list of railway accidents in recent months, a list that has grown formidably. long. Perusal of the record published this morning shows that 'the accidents have been of various types, so that it would be unwise to presume one particular weakness. Yet if there be an underlying cause, it should not be allowed to remain hidden. For his own credit and in the interests of the public and the departmental staff, the Minister of Hallways should therefore cause to be instituted the widest and most searching inquiry into every relevant aspect, paying particular attention to the three cases involving passengers. Mr. Sullivan acted with commendable promptitude in appointing a board of inquiry with a Strong personnel to investigate the major disaster on March 26 near Wangaiiui. The board's, order of reference is, however, restricted to the circumstances of that particular accident, caused by derailment. The Minister should consider -, without delay whether' the board's commission. should not now be widened to cover . the whole series of recent accidents, including an inquiry into organisation, management, maintenance • and staffing, with special regard' to the safety factor. Public confidence'has been shaken and will hot be reassured by the Ministerial statement, 'however "comprehensive," that Mr. Sullivan promises; it can only be restored by sifting and facing the facts openly.