SHUNTING RISKS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18479, 5 September 1925, Page 16

SHUNTING RISKS.

CAUSES OF AGITATION. ft FOREMAN MAKES CHARGES. (press association telegram.) PALMERSTON NORTH, Sept. 4. The shunting enquiry was continued this morning. Foreman Sweeney said he -had been 37 years in the employ of the Department at various stations, and had probably as wide a shunting experience as any' man in the service to-day. He considered himself an expert shunter. The late shunter Carmichael was a competent shunter for the slack season, and always gave satisfaction regarding his work. In the course of lengthy evidence the witness replied to the allegations made against him by other employees in the course of their evidence. He said he was on the best of terms with Carmichael. The present agitation was due to the industrial trouble of 1924, and to the previous strike. In the busy season the shunting work here was very trying. Extra lights had been placed in the yard where required. Never in witness's career had a man tinder him been scratched. His method of giving orders was practical, and he spoke in a loud, commanding tone. He did not harass, but helped the men. Some shunters did not want to obey orders, and others spoke back. Witness was always willing to give instruction and advice to men. Very often this was not appreciated by some men. witness uaming three who* told their fellow-men not to obey witness, whom, in their ignorance, they regarded as a joke. A lot of the present trouble he considered to be due to those men* Mr Mack said he would call evidence in rebuttal.