EQUIPMENT OF CARS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1866, 27 September 1913, Page 9

EQUIPMENT OF CARS.

IN ACCIDENT CASES. SOME OPINIONS AT INQUEST. . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, September 26. The adjourned inquest concerning tho death of a' little child named Dorothy Griffin, aged three years and seven months, who wan knocked down by and pinned under a tramear in Dominion lioad on September 18, was resumed before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., to-day. Mr. J. K. Kced, K.C., witched tiio proceedings on behalf of tho Tramway Company and motorman, and Mr. Hall Skelton appeared for the relatives of the child. > Percy Miller, motorman, said that ho saw tho child on tho Toad near tho watertable, but, wlion he noticed that sho was liearing tho track, ho applied the emergency broke. Sho was caught by tho edge of tho buffer and thrown round under the back The car was going at from 12 to 15 miles an hour, and lie' pulled up as promptly as possible. Mr. Skelton: Had there been a- protection along the sides' of tho car would not tho child have been saved from going underneath 1 Witness: I did not see how she got under the car.' It is very seldom that, anything does goi under from tho side. Mr. Cutten: Instead of the- child being knockcd clear she appears to have been spun round and 'swung under the car. "Witness stated that ho had not known of any similar accident previously. Mr. Reed stated that jack' stations were, located at various points, and ho would call export evidence to. show that it was not customary to carry jacks on electric cars. . . James H. Brentmnd,' superintendent of rolling stock to the Auckland' Tramway Company, stated that ho was conversant with tramway services in Ariierica, New South Wales, and .Nciv Zealand, and, in no instance, were jacks carricd on electric cars. It .was tho samo with tho up-to-dato systems in England.' Also, invariably lii the case of accident, tho public took control and wero liable to do injury to themselves and bystanders through mishandling 'jacks. In addition the person who had to bo released by lifting cars was probably beyond aid, • Side protections on cars were not prlicticablo. Mr. Skelton: Do you seriously advance .these two reasons as valid why jacks should not bo carried for tho preservation of lifo? ' "Witness: Yes, and I do so from 15 to 20 years' experience. . Is it a satisfactory reason to say that the publio would tako cliargo and do further damage?—VYes, a. very satisfactory reaon." I AVould it not bo 'an advantage, from a life-saving' point of view to carry jacks?—" There would bo no lifesaving." ' ' You do not think it a necessity to carry jacks?—" No." Or that tho company was not negligent in failing to provide packs?— "I do not." Witness added that side protections were placed on four-wheeled cars, but could .not .bo used on cars', suclr as in Auckland. Mr.. Skelton: .But something thero would be better than nothing?—"lt must be strong'.and-permanent'to bo . effective," Protection could bo carried down to within six inches of tho - ground?"— "Yes, but it would be of little use.". The Coroner'returned a', verdict to. tho effcct.that death .was c'nused by shock,-'duo to. injuries through being .accidentally struck by a tramear. Mr. Cutten> added that, somo eyidenco had boon given as to the. advisability .. of Carrying, jacks. ,on tramcars to obviato dpi,ay, in tho ease of accidents. ■ In tho present instance, the delay that occurred had not influenced tho death of the. child. Tho objection to carrying jacks wils not apparent to tho lay mind, and,' on the evidence, ho was not in a position to oxprcss an opinion.