"DELIBERATE PERJURY."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 33, 8 February 1929, Page 9

"DELIBERATE PERJURY."

MAGISTRATE'S OPINION. COMPENSATION DISPUTE. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, Thursday. After hearing evidence in a claim for compensation to-day, Mr. Luxford, S.M., said there appeared to be deliberate perjury on one side or the other. It was a very serious matter and he proposed to give the case mature consideration. The case was one in which Topi Baker claimed from Maurice Griffen compensation according to the statutory award in respect to injuries received while working on Griffen's property at Pikiwahine. The plaintiff said that he was employed at Pikiwahine, near Waiotira, to cut props for Griffen. The accident occurred between 10 and 11 o'clock one morning while he was chopping a tree down. Ho chopped it through and it hit the ground and sprang up again. His right hand caught the weight of the body, and the axe, which he held in his left hand, dropped and severed his first finger and thumb. He bound his injuries up with a piece of the lining of his coat and, after going home, went to Whangarei Hospital, where he was for four or five days. C.rifKn told him he was working a swindle. He absolutely denied that he had offered a man £25 if he could pull the case through. The defendant said he was not satisfied with Baker's work and told him he had no more wages for him, but offered him a job on contract. When he heard that Baker had lost his fingers he interviewed him. He went up with Baker to see the place. The tree which was supposed to have been the cause of the trouble was squared on the end and no work had been done for some time. He told Baker his mind in a very forcible manner. John Williams Hall, medical practioner, said it was not possible for the injury to have been done by wire, and he did not think that it had been self inflicted.