BOARD CHOSEN

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 218, 10 June 1943, Page 3

BOARD CHOSEN

Inquiry Into Otago Railway

Disaster The personnel of the Board of Inquiry which will investigate the derailment of the passenger train near Hyde, Central Otago, on June 4 was announced yesterday by the Minister of Railways, Mr. Semple. The members will be : Sir Francis Frazer, chairman; Mr. John Wood, former enginecr-in-chief of the Public Works Department; Mr. Harold Linter Cole.

The order of reference for the board, which is to report to the Minister of Railways not later than July 13, is ns follows: —1. What was the cause of the derailment? 2. Was any person in the employ *of the Railways Department guilty of any dereliction of duty which directly or indirectly contributed to the derailment? 3. Generally, are there any circumstances in connexion with the derailment which call for a comment, particularly in respect of the rolling stock and the permanent way in the locality of the derailment? 4. What steps, if any, should be taken to prevent a recurrence of a similar derailment? The Minister said that the inquiry would bo open 'to the public, and notification of the board’s sittings would be given in the Press at an early date so that members of the public who desired to give evidence might make the necessary arrangemen ts. .