A BROKEN ANKLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 95, 23 April 1926, Page 7

A BROKEN ANKLE.

ACCIDENT TO TUNNELLER. COMPENSATION CLAIMED. Tlie first of several compensation claims set down for hearing'at the present sittings of the Arbitration Court was beard this morning when Walter Thomas Cook' (Mr: Jacob) claimed from the Crown (Mr. Hubble) compensation for the Joss of earning power following an accident in which he received a broken ankle.. 'Plaintiff, stated that lie>was an expert tunneller, and at the time of the accident in April of last year was employed at Napier by the Public Works Department. His earnings just prior to the accident, when a heavy bar fell and broke his ankle, were about £2 12/ a shift, and for the previous twelve months he averaged £9 9/ a week. Tunnelling work was heavy and because of the injury to the ankle he was not now able to do it. and could not earn more than the ordinary labourer. He could only do light work, which was ! very difficult to obtain, and he claimed ;58 per cent of £-5 S/, his decreased earnings, for whatever period the Court, might determine. Dr. "R. Tracy Inglis, who attended plaintiff, said he considered plaintiff's ankle would get perfectly right; but it was difficult to say when that would be. At a rough guess he would say plaintiff would be able to do heavy work twelve months from the present time. . Dr. K. S. Macky, called by the Crown, said he had examined Cook's ankle on more than one occasion, and his opinion was that there should have been a complete recovery in a year from the date of the accident. He considered. Cook was now able to return to his former, employment. (Proceeding.)