SHUNTERS' FOOTWEAR,

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1776, 14 June 1913, Page 8

SHUNTERS' FOOTWEAR,

THE RISKS OP THEIR DUTIES. fßr Teloffrtwh.—Froit AMoolß-tion.l Dunedln, June 13. Mr., C. C. Graham, district coroner, held an inquiry this morning into the circumstances surrounding the death of George John Neil, railway shunter, who was killed during the course of his employment on Wednesday night at the goods yards. Deceased was 39 years of ago. The evidence'was to the effect that at the time of the accident deceased was making up a goods train. He gave the "come back" signal to the driver, who responded, and immediately afterwards deceased was found on the ground with one leg severed. The foot was fast in the points, and the body about five feet away. The coroner said that about 12 months ngo he held a somewhat similar inquiry, and drew the attention of the authorities to the advisability of shoes or special boots being worn by shunters. He had not heard what had been done in the matter. It was stated that there was a notice in the 'loco." shed advising that elastic boots be worn, but there -was eo much jumping up and down to bo done that elastio boots made the feet sore, became loose, and constituted a danger in themselves. The Coroner: That certainly shows that thie-. authorities havo been alive to the danger, but I suppose the' men wear the boots that they prefer. Mr. Wallace, goods agent, explained that in his opinion deceased, who had previously been eo careful, had inadvertently misjudged the position, and thought that he_ was further south and clear of, the points. It was not tho practice to attempt uncoupling the wagons at the points. The Coroner said that at was clear that tho cause of death was purely accidental,, and that no blame was attachable to anyone. Ho expressed his pleasure that tho remarks which he had mado at tho previous inquest had not been by the authorities. '