CLAIM FOR INJURIES

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 111, 11 May 1921, Page 6

CLAIM FOR INJURIES

WATERSIDER AND SHIPPING COMPANY.

The claim of Alfred Peterson, a waterside worker, against the New Zealand Shipping Company for compensation in respect to an injury to his right hand, was before tho Arbitration Court to-day. His Honour Mr. Justice Frazer presided, and with him were Messrs. W. Scott, employers' asse-ssor, and J.. A. M'Cullough, employees' assessor. Mr. P. J. O'Regan appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. H. E. Evans for the company. The facts, which were not in dispute, were that Peterson was assisting to discharge cargo from the.steamer Otaki on 13th May, 1920, and, as the result of an accident, injured his hand.V His average earnings were £4 19s a week, and weekly compensation had beei paid by tho company at the usual rafe, amounting in this case to £2 9s 6d a week, since the accident. The Court was asked to decide what amount should bp paid to plaintiff in settlement of his claim

Dr., Faulke, called on behalf of plaintiff, said the middle finger was useless, and, from an examination ht> had made that morning he would 'advise that it be removed. The hand was left in a weakened condition.

In answen to Mr. Evans, ,'ihe witness said the _ condition of the inand would improve if tho middle finger was amputated.

■ Mr. Evans contended that there was no reason why tho Court should award any.thing more than the amount provided for in tho scale for tho loss of the finger He called Dr. E. W. Siesen, who considered that after Peterson had used his right hand for a while ho would bo able to go back to his work on the wharf. Tho case, was simply one of the loss of the middle finger. In answer to Mr. O'Regan; the witness agreed that, in the event of the finger being removed, Peterson ought not to go back to manual work for three months. Mr. O'Regan argued that plaintiff was entitled to something- moro than the amount m-ovkled for the loss of a finger as the injury, although nominally only so was really moro extensive. Tho Court reserved its decision.