CLASS III.-NON-MOVEMENT ACCIDENTS.

The following information concerning accidents on railway premises, not connected with the movement of railway vehicles, is given as regards the cases shown in Table I. These accidents, for the most part, are not attributable to railway working. and should not properly be classed as "Railway" Accidents.

A. PASSENGERS.

By falling on steps or from platforms, &c., in station premises 5 were killed and 395 injured, and from other causes 3 were killed and 460 injured.

B. SERVANTS OF COMPANIES OR CONTRACTORS.

The fatalities and cases of injury to railway servants and servants of contractors have been classified in respect of primary cause, as shown in the following Table :

Out of the total of 15,530 non-movement casualties 14,977, or 96.44 per cent., may be described as industrial accidents of a more or less non-preventable character. They include 4 killed and 5,805 injured while engaged in handling goods; 1 killed and 1,189 injured when attending to engines at rest; 12 killed and 3,185 injured by falls on railway premises; 7 killed and 3,071 injured in the performance of ordinary duties upon permanent way, and 13 killed and 2,243 injured from other causes.

Inquiries were held by Assistant Inspecting Officers and Sub-Inspecting Officers into 52 of these accidents, in which 58 persons were killed or injured.

C. OTHER PERSONS.

Excluding trespassers and cases of suicide, 13 persons, other than passengers or servants, were killed, and 550 injured on railway premises; the great proportion of casualties occurring to persons on business at stations and sidings. Three of the deaths were caused by persons falling from platforms or loading banks, four to being struck by falling goods, and six to other causes.

In addition, 21 deaths and 60 cases of injury either occurred to persons who were trespassing on railway premises, or were the result of suicide. Seven of the fatalities were caused by trespassers coming into contact with electrically-charged conductors, and others were due to persons falling off walls, bridges, etc.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient servant,

J. W. PRINGLE,

Colonel,

Chief Inspecting Officer.

18th July, 1927.

THE SECRETARY,

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT.

Printed by H.M.S.O. Press, Harrow.

AON

DROIT

RAILWAY AND CANAL TRAFFIC ACTS, 1854-1913.

THIRTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

RAILWAY AND CANAL COMMISSION

WITH AN

APPENDIX for the Year 1926.

Presented to Parliament by
Command of His Majesty
April, 1927.

LONDON:

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE To be purchased directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses: Adastral House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2; 120, George Street, Edinburgh; York Street, Manchester; 1, St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff;

15, Donegall Square West, Belfast;

or through any Bookseller.

1927

Price 3d Net.

Cmd. 2840.

REPORT.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,

1. We, the Commissioners appointed under the Railway and Canal Traffic Acts, humbly beg to make to your Majesty this Report of our proceedings during the year 1926 pursuant to the direction contained in the Regulation of Railways Act, 1873.

2. A full list of the applications pending on the 1st January, 1926, and of the cases pending on December 31st, 1926 is given in the Appendix in Tabular Form, and in chronological order.

3. Some changes have been made in the jurisdiction of the Commissioners by recent legislation.

4. Under the Defence of the Realm (Acquisition of Land) Act, 1916, as amended by the Defence of the Realm (Acquisition of Land) Act, 1920, and the Railway and Canal Commission (Consents) Act, 1922, and under the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919, and the Electricity Supply Act, 1919, and the Metropolis Water Act, 1897 important questions are referred to this Commission to be heard and determined by them.

5. Under the Mines (Working Facilities & Support) Act, 1923 and the Mines (Working Facilities & Support) Act, 1925, which may be cited together as the Mines (Working Facilities & Support) Acts, 1923 and 1925, questions of great importance as to the working of coal mines in England, Wales and Scotland have come before the Commission for decision since January 1st, 1924 when the first named Statute came into force.

6. Under the Mining Industry Act, 1926 (16 & 17 Geo. V. ch. 28) many questions as to the amalgamation of coal mining schemes are referred to this Commission for confirmation in whole or in part.

7. Under the Orders already made by the Commission under these Statutes over thirty million tons of minerals, including coal, will be worked, which, but for the rights and privileges granted by these Acts, and the Orders made under them must have been left unworked.

8. Under the recent Act entitled the Mines (Working Facilities & Support) Act, 1925 and the Statutory Rule and Order 1926 No. 910 provision has been made for the payment of money into Court and out of Court. These provisions will, we hope, secure and facilitate the necessary payments to the owners of lands and buildings upon or adjoining the mines ordered to be worked or amalgamated, and to all persons entitled to compensation. Arrangements have already been made to facilitate the payment of the royalties, especially to small-holders, with the least delay and the least expense.

(1346) Wt.25528/24 625 4/27

B.&.F.,Ltd. G93

A2