THE LOSS OF AN EYE

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 114, 10 November 1917, Page 11

THE LOSS OF AN EYE

FARM LABOURER CLAIMS COMPENSATIOiS 7. The hearing of a claim for compensation made by a Chinese labourer, Ah Ming, against George Bevan, farmer, Otaki, was commenced in the Arbitration Court yesterday. Mr. Justice Stringer presided, and with him on the bench were Messrs. M'Ci.;!:ough and &ott. Mr. P. J. O"Began appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. C. H. Treadwel! for defendant. In his statement of claim plaintiff set out that in May last, while employed by_ defendant in cutting a- hedge, his right eye was injured by a thorn. He was: now- totally blind in" that- eye. and was in danger of losing the sight of his left eye. As a result of the accident he was .totally incapacitated for some time, and only lately had been able to do light work. He claimed half-pay (£l -Is pc week) during the time he' was incapacitated, and such other relief as the Court saw fit .to araui:. The defence was a total denial of any responsibility for compensation. Defondant, asserted that Ah Ming was employed by contract at the rate of Ss per day, and, as a further defence, claimed that insufficient notice of the accident had been given. After hearing the evidence, his Honour st-a.ted_ that it could not be held that the plaintiff was a contractor. However, the Court would reserve its decision in order to consider the point as to whether the notice was sufficient or otherwise.