ARBITRATION COURT

Evening Star, Issue 18139, 1 December 1922, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT

CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION. TAR AT U MINER'S INJURY. The Arbitration Court—Mr Justice Frazer (President) and Messrs W. Scott and M. J. Reardon (assessors)—sat this morning to hear a claim by Robert Anderson, miner, for £57 2s against the proprietors of the Taratu coal mine as com-pensation-dor injuries suffered while in the employ of the -defendant company. Plaintiff also claimed £1 (medical expenses) and costs. (Mr T, O’Shea-, instructed by Mr O’Regan, appeared for the plaintiff, and (Mr J. B. Callau for the defendants. Mr O’Shea stated that jn April of last year plaintiff was working for the Taratu Company at its mine near Kaitangata. Plaintiff and another man were engaged in fire-stopping, and were handling bricks. The skin was worn off plaintiff’s hands, and hia hands and arms became inflamed. He tried to carry on at the work, but found Himself unable to do so. A day later plaintiff was taken to see Dr Cairns, at Kaitangata, and was ordered into hospital at one© with a poisoned hand. Alter remaining at the hospital for some time ■defendant went to his home at Abbotsford. Later he went to the coal company, and was referred to the insurance company, which, a.fter ha had been examined by (Dr Batchelor, gave him £lO. Evidence was given by plaintiff, who •aid ho was in hospital for three weeks. The skin was torn off his finger-tips by tho bricks and cement he liandled. Evidence in support of the claim wa; given bv John Hadcroft (mine manager), *nd by Tlios. M'Cloy, Robert Burgess, apd Alexander Ramsay, who were working'on the same shift as plaintiff. (Dr Batchelor, who was called _by Mj Callan, said be examined the plaintiff ir August of last year on behalf of the New Zealand Insurance Company. Plaintiff said he had been injured by fumes, am had had pains in his joints, but said no thing about his hands. Witness foum stiffness of one knee and a slight affectior of the heart. From what plaintiff to!c( him and from in dicat ions, witness though that plaintiff might have had rheumath fever. After hearing counsel the court ad joumed for about ten minutes to conside; |te decision, and on return the Preeiden itated that judgment would be given fo the plaintiff for £l9 16s (less the £-10 al ready paid to him), this covering a perioi of sixteen weeks. Costs amounting to £7 7s were allowed »nd the assessing of the expenses of wit W-sjas was left to. the clerk -of awards.