CELLAR EMPLOYEE AT BALLANTYNE’S CROSS-EXAMINED

Grey River Argus, 30 January 1948, Page 3

CELLAR EMPLOYEE AT BALLANTYNE’S CROSS-EXAMINED

Question of Smoking and Precautions CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 29 Keith Owen Smith, an employee, whose duties were in the basement, was cross-examined ai length this morning by counsel representing various interested parties beiore the Roval Commission. Smith, in answer to Mr T. P. Cleary (tor Ballantyne’s) said that he would be in the cellar no more than three minutes after Stevens, a fellow employee, called out to him. He had noticed some inconvenience from the gas from the meter, but had not. been disturbed by it and had not reported it. He liau never seen any wax matches in tlie cellar. In answer to Mr C. S. Thomas (for the underwriters) Smith said tha the could not recall saying that he had left the basement one minute alter he was called by Stevens. To Mr C. G. Penlington (for the Fire Board), Smith said the entrance to the cellar was from the ground floor. There was no door.

In reply to Mr B. A. Barrier (for the Clothing Trades Union) Smith said it was not his custom, when going for afternoon tea] to lock the basement. He continued that when he made his first statement to tiie police he did not know where the fire and before he found out he had made several other statement, which would not be altogether correct. He was a moderately heavy smoker, but never smoked on the firm’s premises. He had signed a written statement that he would not do so, nor carry wax matches. He called at Sutherland’s several limes a week, usually after afternoon tea. He did not always tell Mr Irvine he was going there. There could have been something wrong when he returned from afternoon tea and he would not necessarily have known.

Cross-examined by Mr W. R. Lascelles (for the City Council) Smith said he had never lost employment for smoking at work. On the afternoon of the fire Stevens was the only person he could remember visiting the basement. He was a regular smoker, Smith said, and sometimes smoked a pipe, but always at home. It had been his practice always to carry only wooden matches. The nonsmoking rule was strictly enforced at Ballantyne’s. Smith said he had never smoked on the premises, except in the cafeteria where it was permitted.

There had been a discussion on Communism at the cafeteria that afternoon, Smith said, in answer to Mr Lascelles, but he would not agree that he was even remotely interested, in the Communist Party. Mr Lascelles asked Smith if lie returned to the basement after afternoon tea. Smith said he had not, and had been no closer than •■‘o feet of it. He had gone out to Sutherland's shop mainly to have a smoke. Smith refused to say if he knew of any fellow employees who adopted the same practice to have a smoke, holding the question to be unfair. “You bunked your job to have a smoke and left the cellar unprotected,” commented Mr Lascelles. Smith replied: “Quite often I would be upstairs and there would be nobody in the cellar.” He arrived ax Sutherland’s between 3.35 and 3.a0 Smith continued. While there he heard the fire engines, but took no notice, as it did not enter his head that there was any trouble at Ballantyne’s. When he returned Mr Irvine asked him he had b p en and he said he had been to the conveniences. Under certain circumstances a badly-stubbed cigarette butt carelessly thrown away might start a fire Smith said, in answer to Mr Lascelles. Questioned by Mr A. C. Frasei, who represented Mrs Patricia Lovell, whose husband lost his life in tnq fire Smith agreed that he was absent from the cellar for about 16 minutes from th etimc Stevens called him at 3.20 or 3.25 until he left Mr Irvines office. „ “The fire was first noticed at 3.25. said Mr Fraser. “Are you asking the Commission to believe that as you passed the cellar you noticed no smoke?” , , Smith said that he delimtely saw no smoke. , ~T Replying to his own counsel, Mr C. V Lester, Smith said he did not think he had ever had a discussion with anyone regarding the fire in the cellar. Other people could have access to the cellar during his absence.