Supreme Court MORE EVIDENCE IN LINESMAN’S CLAIM

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30220, 27 August 1963, Page 10

Supreme Court MORE EVIDENCE IN LINESMAN’S CLAIM

The hearing of evidence in the claim for damage* by a linesman against an electricity supply authority was continued in the Supreme Court yesterday before Mr Justice Wilson and a jury. The plaintiff, Richard John Nairn, of Leeston, is claiming £4OOO general damages and £587 special damages from the Springs-Ellesmere Electric Power Board. He fell from a ladder on a power pole at Brookside on February 1, 1961, breaking his neck after getting a severe shock which badly burnt both hands and a leg. Mr B. A. Barrer appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr R. P. Thompson, with him Mr C. B. Atkinson for the defendant. Continuing his evidence for the plaintiff, Stephen Joseph Geary, a retired mains superintendent, said that the structure of the transformer on which Nairn was working was not safe. There should be at least 2ft of working distance from a 11.000-volt wire. Walter Arnold Hadlee, a public accountant, said that the drop in pay between Nairn's linesman’s job and his present meter-reading would probably not be as active as a younger person. This amounted to an unusual set of circumstances. But because she had not kept a proper look-out Wing had some liability. He then reduced the charge.

job had cost the plaintiff £175 so far. This amount was included in the claim for special damages. For the defence. Robert Davidson Veitch, manager of the Municipal Electricity Department in Timaru. said that Nairn’s job on that evening,although carried out after hours, was not a matter of urgency. Even if the matter had been urgent, this would not have justified Naim’s methods. Nairn should have certainly put on his gloves before attaching his safety belt to the pole. Sydney Ernest Slatter. engineer-manager of the defendant board, corroborated Veitch's evidence on safety procedures. To Mr Barrer, the witness said that he would accept the plaintiff’s evidence that there were no other transformer structures in Naim's area of the same type as that on which the accident occurred. The hearing will continue today. Jet Repair Line.— A reception will be held at R.N.Z.A.F Station. Woodbourne, today, to mark the successful completion of the first engine to come off the Avon jet repair line. Operated by the Engine Reconditioning Squadron of No. 1 Repair Depot, the line reconditions and repairs the hundreds of components which make up the Avon engines installed in Canberra bombers.—(P.A.)