STOREMAN’S CLAIM

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 December 1937, Page 7

STOREMAN’S CLAIM

BURGLAR ALARMS. SYDNEY, December IS. False burglar alarms, caused by rats and mice, were claimed by Irwin Warland, storeman, of Homer Street, Earlwood, to have been the cause of his nervous breakdown. In the Workers’ Compensation Commission yesterday Warland sought £4 10/- a week compensation from D. Mitchell and Co., Ltd., of Forbes Street, East Sydney, for incapacity due to his employment.

The applicant submitted that his incapacity was caused by degeneration of the cerebrospinal system and high blood pressure due to the nature of his work while in charge of the respondent company's store. He said there had been 40 false calls. When these occurred he was telephoned by the police and had to go and search the premises with them. On three nights he had been roused twice from his sleep and on one night three times.

The respondent company denied that Warland’s illness arose out of his employment, but contended it was due to arterio-sclerosis. There was no evidence, the company said, that worry would cause degeneration or high blood pressure. Warland had been paid £4/19/- a week from November 23, 1935, to January 2, 1936, and £2 a week from January 9, 1936, to August 6, 1936. An award was made in favour of the' respondent company.