"RED TAPE.”

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1923, Page 4

"RED TAPE.”

C LOAKROOAI FEES LEVIED. WHILE PASSENGERS TELEGRAPH TO RELATIVES. "ACCORDING TO REG FLAT lOXS. ’ ’

“Red Tape" is one of Lhose mysterious, intangible tilings so often associated with Government departments, hut, happily, it is rarely in evidence in such emergencies as that which arose in the railway disaster up north on Friday. I hat it did appear at Tanmarunui. although not in a serious degree, is disclosed in a statement made to a N’.Z. “Times” reporter on Sunday by .Mr F. Brown, of Sydney, who was .a passenger mi the ill-fated train. It was just one of those incident ; calculated to worry and upset pn-songers already distressed by the terrible experiences through which they had g.iiie. hut had it eonie under the notice of the i-latioimiaster —who was busy with transport arrangements—it would, no doubt, have been remedied immediately. Mr I’.row.i only arrived by the Elimuron ion days ago, for he is travelling through l lie Dominion oil behalf

of his firm. Having finished his business in Auckland, lie hooked his seat by ill,- Alain Trunk train on Thnrsdnv evening. The train was delayed some hours and ho was on the point of -

(■oiling his seat as it was decided to send the train off.

"1 was in Un- sleeping-ear next to the guard's van at the rear of tie train, and was just waking up, wnon 1 felt a jolt as if the carriage was un a sleep.-r or going to leave the rails. It was not very violent, and although I was on my side it did not throw me out of mr hunk. 1 did not think anything serious had happened, hut another gentleman left the train and did not return for some time. I was just wondering what was slopping the train, when the man returned, a-kiug if there was a doctor on board. People were beginning to move about, and 1 ill, night perhaps a man had fallen from tlie train. I got up and wont to the front, where I saw what Find happened The engine was lying on the side of the line, and the first three e.arriages wore telescoped. The passengers assisted in bringing tip cushions, rugs, and other things ~n which it) place the injured, and rendered wiial assistance they could, while others wore at work in the j wreckage. The relief train arrived in J a surpn-iii ~!y short time, and (lie firsf hatch .j I wi.undc.l worn dispel died to Tanmnrunui, together with a number ul pM-M-ngcr- who were uninjured. On arrival at the station -ovcral went to the telegraph ofliec'or the po.-t office lo sent I ,-leg ram - to their relatives t., let ! them know l hat i hoy were sale, and lo j get a ii .nl. I was amongst them, and I "c b-'t '"ir luggage on the plaHorm. I FeeAi.K IMS \ I’PFARS. I “On mu Ici in ii ,• 11r luggage had dis- | n| ! l "ared. and i.u making mipiirios of

j Ihe porter, we found it had loen plac'd in ihe chink-room. \Yc went to <•! dm 11. and on d- ing «, weir not w ill, a deni::::,! for . Imdi-r.cm In-. Sever;,l « ; l us pi d hut. ihe luggage purler. or wl.ocur il WHS in charge, ■imply replied, ‘li's the regulation...' So "*■ had to pay. one gentleman remarking that lie had not time t . argue the point, while another pr tede.l very emp-hal ieajly. In:i i! ~ uiily sal isfretion he could .get was that it we - 'the :ogtilatiins.’ | paid um'ar pm»--l, not heeause , I the amo'uit. hot ag-aiusl the principle of tin- thing, for the l |,| ;-lc Ml tig- w re. kcl t in v ,-re aiix-

*»•-*:•:! I'M them ill hrV- I • -11 m:-, !.- to pay lor | utting tlicit luggage in -the cloa k-ri wi :11 . while arrangement s Were h. ing made for illem lo gel away, "i'll" sj aiiunmr.'tor w - not ic-; oil-

'd' l -- lor this, lei me say. Me was l-ii-v with If.m-port arrangements, s . he Y a-, n- l hot liere.l u un t In- in ■i. i ,-r. hut ii v-. ■ annoying. Alt- r liort run dov. 1! tlm line, we w : F , ! over Ihe -lij, a lid get ml I o ain u Far t ■ -in. mid a I'li.h 1.. i. t v in ( dial-line. light h. a-, we did. and if we had mu a In llf ! II- ! her dm. a Ihe 100 tel ... ii Imp cniM. very t'.-.i . f u- would Imve i with our lives Apart Irani ike Itigga;-'. im-idetii. tio riilwnv ollieials we in-- I pi limp!. ,•! •! fi ci ii.-. and con-sid.-taie. Tie '•(■hr! train, doctors and mn - - w are in mi.gln on Hie -'cii - ex- | edit i-ta-ly. and in three Imurs all the iiipiieil had been tv cue I I rum Hie wreckage, and "civ ready t,. he -out i" Do It, -pital." All- IM-ow II a: r:t i d in AY. Iliitgt -ti with tin- s|„.,.ial train in S.itnrdat iiiorliiug.