CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 139, 12 June 1917, Page 4

CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION.

DEATH FROM TETANUS,

JUDGMENT FOR PLATNTIEB'S. A claim for compensation amounting to £430 7/ was made against the Auckland Gas Company at the Arbitration Court yesterday afternoon by Mary Grace, "William Grace, and Florence Jessie Grace, widow, son and daughter respectively of William Grace, a labourer, deceased. Mr. A. L. Denniston appeared for the plaintiffs and Mr H. P. Richmond for the defendants. It was stated in evidence that the deceased was in the employ of the Gas Company, and that while laying a service to a house at Onehunga in December last, he sustained a cut on the finger from which tetanus resulted, ending in his death. For the defence it was denied that deceased had contracted tetanus while in the employ of the defendants. It was pointed out 'that tetanus was very prevalent at Onehunga, and that all classes of the community were liable to infection. Deceased'B infection, therefore, may not hove had any connection with his employment. His Honor Mr Justice Stringer stated that the Court was quite satisfied that the. injury which resulted in tetanus was received "by the deceased while in the employ of" the company, and that his death therefore arose out of and in the course of his employment. Judgment would be given for the plaintiffs for £434 4/ and costs.