WIDOW'S CLAIM

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 40, 17 February 1943, Page 4

WIDOW'S CLAIM

SEQUEL TO BURNS FIRE

FURTHER EVIDENCE HEARD

The hearing of the claim of £4000 general and £50 special damages by the Public Trustee (Mr. North and Mr. Wallace) against the Auckland Electric Power Board (Mr. Richmond and Mr. Rogerson), John Burns and Company, Ltd. (Mr. Johnstone, K.C., and Mr. Goldstine), and H. K. Browne and Company, Ltd. (Mr. Finlay), was continued to-day before Mr." Justice Fair and a jury. The claim is made on behalf of the widow and family of the late Mr. Francis H. Baker, an employee of the Burns Company, whose death resulted from injuries received m a fire in the Burns premises in August, 1941. . George McKenzie, fire brigade superintendent, stated that the fire had obviously started at the switchboard. He knew other switchboards in the city were without a cover. After Constable H. S. Butler had described Mr. Baker's fall when being lowered by a rope, several witnesses testified as to tests made of the switchboard equipment. Eric Hutchison, supply engineer of the power board, said it was a standard practice to enclose such a switchboard only sufficiently to prevent access by unauthorised persons. He did not consider the power board had authority under, the regulations to insist on the switchboard at Burns' being wholly enclosed. In reply to Mr. Finlay the witness said the work done by Brown and Company at Burns and Company's premises was only wiring work that had nothing to do with the general installation, and entailed no need tcr touch the switchboard. The employee. Campbell was considered a competent man. (Proceeding.) ■