ACCIDENT IN QUARRY

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24985, 20 September 1946, Page 10

ACCIDENT IN QUARRY

MILITARY PRISONER INJURED

COMPENSATION SOUGHT IN PETITION

(Frorp Our Parliamentary Reporter.)

r WELLINGTON, September 19. Compensation for the loss of his right arm in an accident while serving a military prison sentence Was sought by Roy Meyers Johnstone, of Waikuku Beach, in a petition presented to the House of Representatives to-day by Mr W. H. Gillespie (Opposition, Hurunui). % According to the-petition Johnstone, in March, 1943, was sentenced by a courtmartial to 18- months’ imprisonment with hard labour. In October, 1943, he was working with other prisoners in a quarry in National Park. A portion of the quarry face came down without warning, and Johnstone’s hand was caught against a truck. He was admitted to hospital, where his right arm was amputated below the elbow. He was released eight weeks after the accident.

The Justice Department denied liability under the Workers’ Compensation Act, or otherwise, but paid the cost of an artificial arm, and made representations to the Social Security Department; which provided a benefit, now amounting to £2 a week. Johnstone could not get a military pepsicm. Before the war Johnstone was employed by the Christchurch Gas Company as a machine operator, but because of the injury has been unablp to return to that job, or undertake other work of a labouring or like nature. He is a single man, aged 37.