A COMPENSATION CLAIM.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20612, 30 July 1932, Page 5

A COMPENSATION CLAIM.

CASE IN ARBITRATION COURT. John Ho nr.? Neale, labourer, of Belfast, claimed compensation, in the Arbitration Court, yesterday, from the Zealand in Sonp, Candle, and Trading Co., Ltd., for an injury whioli, ho said, ho sullercd while employed by the company. Jlr .Justice Frazcr presided and with him wo re Mr W. Cecil Prime (employers' representative) and Mi- A. T/. Monteith (employees' representative). The statement of claim was that- on December 28th, 1931, plaintiff, while in the employ of the defendant as a-la-bourer, and during the course of his employment, sustained an abrasion of the right knee bv striking it against a projection on the floor of the boiler ihie which he was cleaning. The leg became with clotting, and consequent retardation of the blood vessels, and tho plaintiff suffered aggravation of pre-existing heart trouble, lie was totally incapacitated until May 2nd, 1932, when he was able to return to work, but was- permanently partially incapacitated as a. result of the accident. His average ■weekly earnings at tho time of the accident were £4 19s lid. The defendant company had paid £39 lis lOd compensation, but refused to recognise any further liability. Ho claimed compensation under the Act. The defence was a general denial of tho whole claim. Neale gave evidence of injuring himself while cleaning a flue. Giving judgment, .his Honour said that if the plaintiff had not been taken back to work at his old.wages, he would have been entitled to compensation equal to 25 per cent, of the amount which would have been awarded for tho loss of m leg. As it was he was apparently still doing his work quite efficiently. Plaint.ilV W;is entitled to full compensation fcr the period in which ho was totally incapacitated, and he was awarded this for six weeks from the date of the Inst payment made by the defendant. A susnensorv order of id a week was also made, enabling tho matter to ho ve-opened, should the plaintiff lj»reak down later oil or be dismissed.