MINIMISING RISKS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 35, 2 June 1914, Page 4

MINIMISING RISKS.

Recent disasters on the railways in different parts of the world have

brought forcibly under notice the necessity for, as far as possible, minimising the risks of travelling by train. The lamentable loss of life and heartrending scenes which accompanied some of the railway smashes which have occurred during the past twelve months have led to Board of Trade inquiries, and as an outcome of these and the general discussion that has followed, it would seem that tho adoption of all steel cars and electric lighting will become more general. The latter, which former!v involved

about eight horse-power per coach and a cost of £45 annually, can, it is as-

serted, now be maintained for £7 per annum and driven by 1.5 horse-power. This would make it a practicable form of lighting for all trains. The risk of fire where gas-lighting is employed is, in the case of accident, enormously greater than where electricity is the illuminant. The all-steel ear, while it is not at all general in England, is now quite common on the raiway systems of the Tinted States. The Auckland Star specially refers to these matters

just now because it is at such a time that public attention is focussed on the question. With the speeding up of our trains the risk of accident will inevitably increase, and in new construction of rolling stock for the railways the Department should be urged to adopt the latest methods, and include the most modern appliances to reduce the danger of life and limb from such accidents as that on the Main Trunk a few days ago.