HAND IN MANGLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 99, 28 April 1936, Page 8

HAND IN MANGLE.

ACCIDENT IN LAUNDRY

GIRL LOSES FINGERS.

£1300 DAMAGES CLAIMED.

Injuries received by a girl 17 years of age, Monica Ethel Mathcson, while working in a laundry at Devonport on May 23, 1935, led to a claim for £1300 general'damages in tlie Supreme Court to-day, before Mr. Justice Fair. The action was brought through the girl's father, James Alexander Matheson, theatrical employee (Mr. West), the defendant being W. D. Meiklejolin (Mr. Richmond), the proprietor of the laundry. Mr. West explained that the girl with two others was engaged putting a tablecloth through a mangle into which her right hand was drawn, held there for about eight minutes, and "cooked" by the steam from the hot box. It was alleged, he said, that the roller was inadequately guarded. There was a guard, but it was contended that it was ineffective. In addition to the alleged failure properly to protect the machinery it was submitted that the defendant was further negligent in that he failed to instruct the plaintiff in the use of the machine. Finally there was negligence in the undue delay in releasing the girl's hand from the machine, submitted counsel. Contributory Negligence Denied. Counsel added that the defence would deny the allegations of negligence and say that it was the negligence or contributory negligence of the plaintiff which caused the accident. It would be said that the plaintiff had her head turned away, but this she would refute, said Mr. West. The result of the accident, concluded counsel, was that plaintiff had to have her fingers amputated, leaving her only a stump. The first day she was put to work (it the machine the defendant's son told her not to be frightened as there was no danger, said the plaintiff in evidence.