LICENSING OF LIFTS

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1935, Page 7

LICENSING OF LIFTS

MARINE DEPARTMENT CRITICISED. INQUIRY INTO DEATH OF YOUTH. " By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Strong criticism of the methods used by the Marine Department in the licensing of lifts in city buildings. was expressed by Mr. O. C. Mazengarb at an inquest held to-day into the death of Gordon Sims, an electrical apprentice aged 17J years, who was killed through being crushed between a lift and the wall of the shaft, in. the Magnus Motors building on Saturday morning. Mr. Mazengarb, who appeared for the parents of the youth, subjected the inspector of machinery for the Marine Department to a long cross-examination on the fact that the lift had been operated without a license since April or May and expressed the opinion that it was perfectly scandalous that lifts at Wellington went unlicensed for two or three months solely because the department could not 'get round the city in time. , An electrician explained that all except the ground floor gates of the lift were electrically controlled. The ground floor gates operated vertically and rose or dropped as the lift descended or ascended. Judging by the position of Sims it appeared that he stepped into the lift as it started to ascend and was knocked down by the gate as it dropped into position.

A finding was recorded that Sims was fatally injured by being crushed when attempting to enter a goods lift in motion. TTte coroner said the lift machinery was passed Ipy expert men and if ordinary care were taken it would not be dangerous.