EYE INJURY TO SCHOOLBOY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29067, 2 December 1959, Page 18

EYE INJURY TO SCHOOLBOY

£4594 Damages Awarded (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, Dec. 1. A boy of 11, who to-ld the Court in evidence that he had hoped some day to be an air pilot like his uncle, who opce piloted an aircraft carrying Her Majesty the Queen, was awarded £4500 general damages and £94 8s 6d special damages in the Supreme Court at Wellington today for a serious eye injury suffered while being instructed at the Taita Intermediate School. The case was heard before Mr Justice Haslam and a jury of 12. The plaintiff was Kevin James Craig, of Lower Hutt, a pupil, who sued through his father, Donald James Craig, of Lower Hutt, a carrier.

The plaintiff was represented by Mr A. G. Keesing, and Mr R. C. Savage, Crown Solicitor, appeared for the defendant, the Wellington Education Board. After its verdict, the jury returned the following rideV: “We are concerned at the apparent lack of attention and treatment at the Hutt Public Hospital, and would like this complaint to be forwarded to the proper authority.” The father of the boy had earlier given evidence that he had been told by a doctor at the Hutt Public Hospital that his son would have to be taken to the Wellington Public Hospital for attention and treatment. The father told the Court that he had taken his son to Wellington in the cab of his truck.

When the jury returned its rider, Mr Justice Haslam said it would be appreciated by the jury that this was just one aspect of the case. The rider would be sent to the proper authorities, he said.

The statement of claim alleged that on May 25 of this year, while the plaintiff was attending a metalwork class at the Taita Intermediate School under the supervision and instruction of a teacher employed by the department, a piece of metal thrown off by a drilling machine operated by another pupil, hit Kevin Craig and caused a serious injury to the left eye. The plaintiff claimed £6OOO general and £94 8s 6d special damages. The board admitted liability to pay reasonable damages.