CAR’S PLUNGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1939, Page 7

CAR’S PLUNGE

RECENT HARBOUR TRAGEDY IN AUCKLAND BETTER SAFETY MEASURES REQUIRED. OBSERVATIONS BY CORONER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 10. “I think that those in authority should forthwith take some steps to guard against the possibility of this kind of accident occurring in future,” said the coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., after he had heard evidence today on a

double drowning tragedy that was the sequel to wedding

celebrations on North Shore on the night of April 11.

The inquest was concluded by Mr Hunt, who added to his finding of accidental death by drowning a rider urging the provision of better safety measures at. the Devonport vehicular ferry landing. ’ The victims, who were trapped in a motor-car, which plunged into the harbour from the end of the Devonport vehicular ferry landing, were Miss Elizabeth Maud Swanston, aged 21. daughter of Mr R. N. K. Swanston, retired banker. Takapuna, and Miss Margaret Mary Beale, aged 39, daughter of Mr J. B. Beale, solicitor, Tauranga. Both of the young women had attended a wedding at Devonport, at which Miss Swanston was one of the bridesmaids, and the reception afterward at Takapuna. They were on their way to a city cabaret, travelling in a car with three young men, when the tragic accident occurred. Arriving at the ferry wharf, two of the men left the car, one of them doing so in order to make a telephone call. When the vehicle made its fatal plunge from the end of the landing the driver, Mr James Foss Faulkner, aged 30, Tauranga, who was groomsman at the wedding, escaped, but the two young women could not be rescued, in spite of desperate efforts by their three companions, who dived repeatedly. After hearing evidence, the coroner remarked that he had been stopped in the'street by several people, and had also received a number of letters from others on the subject of the accident. These people had wanted to tell him of lucky escapes which they had had at the same ferry landing.

“This accident was indeed most tragic and unfortunate,” added Mr Hunt. “It is not for me to say whether blame is attachable to anyone, and I am going to give a finding that these unfortunate young women died by accidental drowning through the car in which they were travelling falling into the harbour at Devonport.” The coroner went on to say, however, that he intended to add a rider to his finding. Whether or not a warning light was burning, whether or not the lettering on the light and on the safety arm at the landing was sufficiently dis tinct, did not much matter. The accident had clearly proved that the two signs provided were not adequate to guard the public against such accidents.

“It seems to me that it would be a perfectly simple thing to have two great arms or gates at the head of the ramp which would be closed after vehicular ferries had left the wharf,” he added.

“We have a good example of that type of precaution at Western Viaduct. .1 think that those in authority should forthwith take some such steps to guard against accidents like this in future and even, if necessary, have a man on duty there, particularly at night.” Mr Hunt said the young men in the party were to be commended for the great efforts they had made to save the victims of the tragedy. He hoped it would be the last such accident the public would hear of. Counsel who appeared for the relatives of the two women said they were satisfied that no blame at all cbuld be attached to the driver of the car. ACTION TO 'BE TAKEN. PROTECTION FOR MOTORISTS. AUCKLAND, May 10. An assurance that the Auckland Harbour Board would take immediate steps to provide more adequate safety measures on the ramp at the Devonport vehicular wharf was given by Mr W. B. Darlow, chairman of the board, when the coroner’s comments at the Devonport drowning inquest were referred to him. z “Members of the board are very distressed about the accident,” said Mr Darlow. “For a number of years the board has been under the impression that the facilities provided on the wharf were quite adequate for the safety of the average motorist. In view of what has occurred, however, we realise that we must now provide some extra precaution. Safety gates as suggested by the coroner may not be the most suitable measures to adopt, but I can assure the public of Auckland that the board’s engineer, Mr D. Holderness, will go thoroughly into the matter and will provide something that is considered to be as near foolproof as possible.”