SHUNTING ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1925, Page 4

SHUNTING ENQUIRY

[by tvi,i:r:i!,' rv: -per tmtsa .’.ssoctATlCX.l At llie inqitiiy re rr'hvay shunters. Dr |). it. BU> ex; ressed sati-Ihu t ion at the attoalica n" aived by ih" e:acol. whose e»" 1 wits lc-pc' '.■■'•a from the ui'.-.t. Steps ! : nil he taken i 1 hitV*? the radwav st : etchers made ta lit ambulances. William White, the fireman <f the engine, also gave evidence as to the cause ( .f t’.'e accident. Percy Kiln aid Topp stated he had (if years’ experience in Palmerston North yards, and he was prnotit a!;y head shunter. Deceased was nervocs in dispositi m. and we 5 easily excited. The foreman. Do Rosa, had said he hail tw ktM*p. an eye on Carmichael, au <therwisc the latter would he hilled. Witness stated he himself had had irenh'e and tlilfercnces with Do Ro-n occasionally, and there also were flutters h-nveen th'> foremen themsHves. After enumerating deiicieuetes m the iltaintige and lighting of the yai c. witness said the trains were not rettsniuihlv marshalled. nor were the trucks even grouped. There is not sufficient louiu for efficient work in the local yards, hut witness ad\anted sn.g----e--ii::is for an exteiiseui h-y the omoval of sheds and the ill ili ai ion of spare In ml. so tlm I extra tracks e mhl he laid. In reo!v to the Ghairinan. lie said tlm supervision of the yards could he imp",,ved. Shifts should not exceed ci'dit hours, although be admitted they infrequently were extended to nine hours. Seven hours working hard, especially in the heal of summer, was long enough. The present system of instruction of shunters could lie much improved. The man in charge ol the gangs had to teach them. The now men were merely passengers, and they . miiM hr «rivoi» » }><•! tor min tno work, if an experienced man was told then in .slj.ow them the dill event workings, liecruits were a source ol itnviely bccattse they could not rely on them. To Mr Smith: Witness stated the v,t i", 1 - often sulferetl incoiivenietn ( lining)' the promotion and transfer of men aequainted with the local ci'ini.titions. It was a. pity when men were u-ed to i!:e yard. ll l ' could not get promet ion through the yard. Mr Mack: But when a man gets to the stage that he is too old for his worlc. what are you going to do with him Y Witness: In my experience he is relegated to the platforms, and finally to the conveniences. Mr Smith: Tin: shunters in one place opine thal the foremen should he men of many year.-’ experience as shunters. Mr Mack: But .suppose an Aucklander is appointed In Palmerston North, you would have to start and leach him Ihe local eondit ions, just when he was ready to ho superannuated. Wiiuos.s ijjivi* u(*iso opinions on several technical mallet's, presenting minor points of danger. Ivlmoml O'Dea. a new shunter, after being seven yea is a tablet porter, deposed that lie was not instructed in the work. The foremen could give the shunters a little more as-i-tanot than they did. Tile hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.