CORONER’S COMMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1933, Page 6

CORONER’S COMMENT

AT INQUEST PROCEEDINGS.

(Per Press Association Copyright.)

CHRISTCHURCH, January 25

At an inquest, concerning the death of a girl who was knocked down by a tram, Coroner Mosley made several references to the difficulty the polico had had in their work, through the refusal of $ tramway employee to explain his part in the accident. He criticised the Tramway Board regulation, which prevented an employee • ; from saying anything. “I cannot .understand why there should be such a rule,” said the coroner. “Surely it is unwise for a public body to hinder the police in this way. There should be no concealment.”

-Counsel' for the board, Mr Hutchison, explained that there was »o intention to conceal anything. A tramway rule would not allow officials to make any statement to anybody. If the manager had been approached, the matter would liavo been smoothed out.

“I think the police were right in not going to tho manager,” said Mr Mosley. “They have a right to the information.”

Before questioning the motorman, Mr Hutohisolireferred to the fact that the motorman had made no statement to the police. He said it was a purely unfortunate occurrence. • The Coroner: It seems to nie to be an extraordinary attitude to take up, and. most, undesirable from the public point of view. ■Senior-Sergeant Fox said that as a result, the police had been left in the air 'and were unable to investigate the motorman’s side of the story. “That means that the most important evidence from a Coroner’s point of view is lost, andf the ends of justice are not met,” commented the Coroner.