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THE TRAM ACCIDENT

AND THE CORONER'S VERDICT

COMMENT BY THE MAYOR

■ Tho serious tramway accident which occurred on tho Wellington tramways during Christmas week was referred to by tho Mayor '(Mr. J. P. Luke) at the Meeting of the City Council last night. Tbo Mayor said that the accident had heeu the most serious that had ever occurred on the tramways, and ho was sure tho council sympathised with the relatives of tho deceased. Ho made brief reference to tho lato Motorman Small, Mr. Evans, and Mr. M'Ewan, saying that they had all been respected citizens. Motorman Small had been au employee of the council for a good number of years, and on this occasion it appeared that he had fainted, and had not failed to carry out his duties. Mr. Evans had evidently done his best to avert tho disaster, hut unfortunately without success. Whether ho had minimised the accident it was impossible to say. Tho Mayor asked councillors to join with him in expressing the sympathy of the council and of the citizens of Wellington. Councillor Frost seconded tho motion, which was affirmed by councillors upstanding. It was resolved that the Town. Clerk he instructed to forward letters of condolence to the widows of the three men who lost their lives in the accident, and also a letter to Conductor Frioker, who met with an accident resulting in the loss of e. leg. The Mayor went on to make some references to the verdict of the Coroner at tho inquest. Tho evidence was that Motorman Small fainted, and this fact relieved the council of much anxiety it might otherwise have feft regarding the'accident. The Coroner had suggested that tho corporation should tako steps to avoid in future any similar accident. It need not bo said in reply that tho council would take steps to avoid any accident. As to tho Coroner's suggestion that conductors should be instructed in the use of the brakes, that was really a question for experts. His own opiriion was that there might be danger in supplying the conductor with duplicate biakc handles. The Coroner .had condemned tho. darkening of tho window behind the motorman,- but the window was darkened under regulation of the Public Works Department. Councillor Luekie: Made at the request of the motormen. Tho Mayor said that the motormen insisted upon this window being opa-quo. The council was not guilty of any slackness of duty in this respect. The recommendation that the passageway through the tram be, kept clear was in effect a direction that there should be no overciowding of onrs. Ho thought the council would be well pleased if citizens would deny themselves a little on occasion, and not overcrowd the trams.

He thought the Coroner had gone out of his way, and had not been justified, in speaking of the traffic manager as be had dono. The Coroner had said regarding' Evans's conduct: "I cannot too strongly denounce tho attempt made to throw the blame on him." Mr. M'Gillivray had never made a single suggestion to warrant the Coroner in making such a comment upon him. Councillor Luckic: Nor anybody else. The Mayor said that he had received a letter from Mr. Ncavc, counsel for tho widow of Motorman Small, in which he stated in effect that the remarks of the Coroner regarding the. traffic manager were quite unwarranted.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19200128.2.15

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 105, 28 January 1920, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
561

THE TRAM ACCIDENT Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 105, 28 January 1920, Page 5

THE TRAM ACCIDENT Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 105, 28 January 1920, Page 5

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