DANGER ON THE WHARVES

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1928, Page 12

DANGER ON THE WHARVES

PUBLIC DISREGARD NOTICES. COMPLAINT BY RAILWAYMEN. Mr. H. T. Nirams, stationmaster at New Plymouth; notified tire New Plymouth Harbour Board yesterday that the drivers and firemen of the wharf shunting engines were again considerably perturbed as a result of the manner in which the public was allowed on the wharves at busy times. For the last few -weeks the number of people fishing from the wharves had been considerable and it was feared that sooner or later a fatal accident would result. He would therefore be glad if the boar! would strictly enforce its construction regarding the exelusion of the pub'ic from the wharves at busy times. The chairman said that apparently no notice was taken of the notice boards. He did not know what action the board could take. Captain Waller considered that the only way to stop the public would be to erect a barricade. Mr, E. Maxwell did not consider the board should debar the public altogether. Mr. J. H. Holm pointed out that people went on to the wharves at their own risk if they took no notice of the warning notices. Mr. W. T. Wells said the public would not take warning, until there had been a fatal accident or two. Mr. Cruickshank did not favour t’-ic erection of a barricade. He considered it would be better to place a uniformed officer in charge on necessary occasions. The chairman pointed out that besides the danger of accident to the publicthey had to consider the effect of any accident on the nerves of the railway officials.

Mr. Maxwell said that the board had been fighting for years so as to have the wharves open to public traffic and he did not think the board should altogether debar the public from the wharves. Moreover the Railway Department should be prepared to accept some of the responsibility in the case of accident. There was the danger that in tire event of an accident the Railway Department might hold the board responsible if it provided a. uniformed official to guard the wharf. Members generally were of opinion that the public, ©specially those engaged in fishing on the wharves, were a danger in busy times and especially when ships were being berthed. The harbourmaster, too, considered that the fishermen wcr not too tidy in their habits, being inclined to leave bait, etc., about the wharf. After a little further discussion it was resolved to reply that the board had instructed its officials to take all reasonable precautions during such times as it was necessary to keep the wharf clear of the public.