SHUNTING INQUIRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19438, 26 October 1925, Page 8

SHUNTING INQUIRY

BOARD’S FINDING [Per Press Association.] PALMERSTON N., Oct. 24. Tho Prime Minister has advised Mr J. Ai Nash that the principal findings of the Shunting Board Inquiry, which recently sat at Palmerston, are: 1. —The staffing of tho Palmerston North yard was found to bo satisfactory as far as tho number of employees in shunting was concerned, though the gangs of Into have been reduced in efficiency owing to tho transfers of senior men on promotion. Special attention is being given immediately to the matter of maintaining the gangs at full strength. 2. —The Board recommends that, if possible, some arrangements be made for grouping loads of various districts at Wellington and Paekakariki to ease the position at Palmerston North. This matter is being gone into at once by the transportation branch. 3. —Some rearrangement of staff in order to overcome friction is recommended. This also is being looked into. 4. —An improvement of lighting of the yard is recommended, particularly at tho ladder roads at the north and south ends. These lights aro being provided immediately, and the matter of further lighting is being considered. 5. —With regard to the lay-out of the yard, it is found that congestion occurs at busy periods, and additional sidings are recommended. Plans and estimates for this work are being got out. 6. —An improvement of the drainage of the yard is recommended and is being taken in hand. 7. —Other less important matters such as painting points and lev.ers white, tilling the space between sleepers at double slip points, have been dealt with by the board, and are being taken in hand by tho Department. 8. —With regard to the death of Shunter Carmichael, the board finds that tho foreman, De Rosa, was in no way responsible for the accident, and that the death- of Carmichael was purely accidental and brought abot * by over-anxiousness to get through the work.