DIED AT WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 76, 31 March 1931, Page 18

DIED AT WORK

INQUEST ON OLD MAN

"It would probably case one's mind to know that medical assistance can be rushed more quickly to a worker than it has been in this case," said Mr. J. D. Willis at an inquust held at tho Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon into the death of Edward James Priestley, wlio collapsed while engaged on relief work in Hoiiglilon Bay road ou 25th March. Mr. Willis's remarks followed statements to tho effect that an ambulance did not arrive until nearly an hour after Priestley biicl collapsed.

James Hedifen, foreman of tho City Corporation relief workers at Houghton Bay road, said tho deceased had not been fit for heavy work and for that reason he was given light jobs, such as attending to a firo and supplying drinking water to the men. On tho day ho (lied ho appeared to be quite- well when witness last spoke to him. at 2.5 p.m. Seven minutes later one of the men told him that" Priestley had collapsed. Priestley appeared to be dead, and witness immediately telephoned the Corporation ya.rd for assistance. AVitkin fifteen minutes a policeman arrived in a motor-car, and three-quarters of an hour later an ambulance arrived. AVitness later explained that the ambulance would have arrived almost as soon as the constable if it had not been misdirected.

Mr. Willis, who appeared for the relatives oil tlio .deceased, said that the accident occurred in tho vicinity of the Hospital, and under tlio circumstances more speedy medical attention might have been given. Appearing for tho City Corporation, Mr. M. J. Earle said that the Corporation Yard officials had communicated with the police as soon as possible after they had received the message from tho foreman.

TFo Coroner, Mr. I. Salok, J.P., returned a finding in accordance with the evidence of Dr. P. j'. Lynch, pathologist to the Wellington Hospital, who said that death was due to old standing heart disease.