INJURY TO AN EYE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 119, 13 February 1929, Page 9

INJURY TO AN EYE

COOMI’ENSATIOX FIXED. In the Arbitration Court yesterday Maxwell Louis Perrin, u labourer, of Petone. claimed £323 4s. from John Graham, a sea cook, of Stokes Valley, Lower «Hutt, in respect of an injury to his left eye. allegedly caused while in Graham’s employ. Mr. A. M. Cousins appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. P. J. O'Kegan for defendant. . Gjaliani, it was stated,, had bought an area of about, six acres in Stokes Valley with a view to making his. home there. Perrin was employed by him to cut the gorse on the section, and was paid 1”' a day and provided witli board a / lodging. On the fiftli day Perrin was struck in the left eye by a piece of gorse, which caused permanent injury. Graham, it was stated, had not insured Perrin, and was not in a position to pay 'heavy damages, though he admitted liability. The parties were on friendly terms, but were unable to agree to the amount of compensation, hence Hie bringing of the ;letir>n before the Court.

His Honour Mr. Justice Frazer said that both defendant and plaintiff wore lucky. Gorse prickles were very sentie, and in most cases such an injury ns Perrin had received would result in the loss of the eye. He would award £6B. less £2O already paid. A suspensory award of an additional penny a week would also be made in ease any further trouble developed. which seemed, however, unlikelv. from the medical evidence.