SEQUEL TO FATALITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24825, 23 February 1944, Page 6

SEQUEL TO FATALITY

GATE DRIVER CHARGED TAKANINI YOUTH'S DEATH Arising out of an accident at Takanini on December 13, In which Frederick Desmond Verner, aged 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Verner. of Takanini, was knocked down by a car and died two days later from injuries received, the driver of the car, Howard Corne.v Lawrence. aged 18, factory hand (Mr. S. D. Jiice), appeared in the Papakura Court yesterday, before Messrs. S. Evans and C. K. Lawrie, J.P.'s. He was charged with negligent driving, failure to stop after the accident, failure to report the accident to the police, with having no driver's licence and with driving a car for which there i was no warrant of fitness.

Sergeant Dyer said accused had been driving the car north on the Great South Road at Takanini on December 13 at 8.40 p.m., when he had knocked down deceased. Accused failed to stop, and that night attended a dance at Takanini. It was announced at the dance that there had been a serious accident, but he did not come forward. When he saw the newspaper account of the accident he told his father, who advised him to inform the police. On behalf of accused, counsel entered a plea of not guilty _on the charges of negligence and failure to stop. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court in Auckland for trial on these charges. On each of the charges of failing to report the matter and of having no driver's licence he was fined 10s. On the charge of having no warrant of fitness, he was fined £l. with costs, 10s.

TRAIN TRAGEDY SEQUEL GUARD'S DISMISSAL WITHDRAWAL OF APPEAL (P.A.) DUNEDIN, Tuesday The degree of responsibility of the guard of the train involved in the smash near liyde on June 4, in which 21 passengers were killed and 46 injured, was argued before the industrial Manpower Committee when- the guard, Robert Parata, aged 54, appealed against the decision permitting the Railway Department to terminate his services.

Mr. J. B. Deakfer, representing the department, said that had not Parata's judgment been impaired by the eonsumption of alcohol, he would have realised that action on his part was necessary. At the trial of the enginedriver I'arala admitted he had five glasses of beer before going on duty, but this was not his only dereliction, for he had not kept his running sheet properly, and left the check of the train to his woman assistant. Hearing complaints from the passengers about the speed of the train, he look no steps to instruct 'lie driver to reduce speed. When the committee resumed in the afternoon counsel for appellant asked leave to withdraw the appeal in view of certain evidence brought forward in the morning. He stated that he had been wholly unaware that this evidence would lie produced and felt that there would be some difficulty in combating it. FERTILISER TRANSPORT FARMERS URGE PRIORITY <OC.), HAMILTON 7 . Tuesday The shortage of railway trucks for the transport of fertiliser for the autumn lopdressing was discussed at a meeting of the Te Kowhai branch of the Fanners' Union. Concern was expressed at the drastic cut in the allocation of trucks for the transport of fertiliser, and the 24 members present <igned a petition to the Prime Minister, the IU. Hon. P. Eraser, urging priority in both rail and road transport for the despatch of fertilisers now at the works to farmers requiring supplies. The petition has been forwarded •o Mr. R. Coulter, M.P., for presentniiH! to the Prime Minister.