A SERIOUS ALLEGATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 534, 15 June 1909, Page 7

A SERIOUS ALLEGATION.

TRAIN. SPEEDS , AND. REGULATIONS'. MUST DRIVERS BREAK THEM? h ™ (Br TBIEGRAPH—PUESS ASSOCIATION.) mi. V „ ' Chf's'ofiufeh, Juno 14. ino speed of Otago Central railway trains was discussal at. a sitting of the Railway Appeal Board this morning during the hcar\?i 8 jt an 001 k y an ongiiie-Urivor (H. Uoodhead) who , has been reduced' in position and pay .for having run his train' at an excessive speed on the Otago Central lino on December 24.' ■ Mr. A. M'Kio, wlio appeared oh behalf of appeUant, said by verbal instructions and telephone engine-drivers wero induced to run trams at oxoossivo speed on the Otago Central lino. If the driver did.not do so the result was unfavourable to him. Hβ was removed, to. somovshunting -.or ballast tiain' ongine. '..'..:.

The chairman (Judge Haselden): All the engine-drivers have to do is to, say, "Wo shall run.according to,regulations in spite of verbal instructions from anyone." Mr. M'Kie replied that that had been tried, but one driver had bcon sent away on ballast trains for doing so. ■•'.'• The chairman: I: hopo your statements will be fully reported in the "Railway Hoyiew." You must not think that I am takink thorn all in. ■;

Mr. Davidsou (representing the Department) said that for Mr. M'Kie's own sake ho would give: them an opportunity to withdraw the statement.:

Mr. M'Kio retorted that he could briue proof of what .he. stated. ~ The chairman: You are malting a very sonous charge, and I hope it will not bo ailowed to rest at this Appeal Board. A charge like this is of too'grave.a character to make as a mero : advocate's statement. Yonr charge is that: ©ngine-drivere are forced to break the regulations, and if they will not break the regulations they are removed from their positions.. .••••• Mr. M'Kie: Quite so. Wβ can provo that. ':•: ■'.., ■. . . ... •.. . ■

The chairman: That is a statement wMeh I certainly would not believe unless it was proved. , Mr, Davidson eaid that Mr. M'Kie had mad«in very wild statement to > which bo would give a most emphatic denial on ttihalf of the Department. ,