FLAXCUTTING FATALITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 107, 2 April 1930, Page 7

FLAXCUTTING FATALITY.

FURTHER DETAILS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) FOXTON, April 2. Further details in connection with the flaxcutting fatality which occurred in the swamp at Moutoa on Monday roveal that the accident was one of the most unusual which has ever taken place in the district. Mr George Rankin, one of the late Mr A’Court’s fellow workers, states that, together with deceased and another flaxcutter, Mr Rountree, he was cutting fix in tho swamp about two and a-half miles from tho Whitaunui mill on Monday afternoon. Each man was operating in a “break” about eighteen yards wide, all of which opened out on to a tramline for tho removal of tho flax from tho swamp to the mill. The first ho knew of anything being amiss was hearing a call from Mr Rountree who was working opposite Mr A’Courts “break.” He ran out on to tho tramline and saw deceased standing on tho line holding his neck. Mr Rankin, immediately taking in the situation, ran to his coat nearby and obtained sbmo antiseptic lint and bandages which ho had and with thorn bandaged up Mr A’Court’s neck which was badly gashed and bleeding freely. The injured man was then carried to a truck and removed to tho mill. Tho condition of tho block on which ho had been working was no different from any other. Mr Rankin said that he had been engaged in flax cutting for 23 years and knew that flax hook 3 sometimes caught in obstacles such as dead flax or blackberry vines which deflected the intended blow, and his opinion was that that was what had happened to decoased. _ Tho only words he spoke when ho was being attended to wore: “Harry, I’m going.” Tho hook deceased had been using was the usual type and it had been picked up. on tho ground where tho accident happened. Deceased was an experienced cutter and physically fit. Mr Johnston Rountree, the only other cutter working in tho vicinity at tho timo of the accident, said that ho heard Mr A’Court call out at about 3 p.m., but not hearing what) he said ho had replied: “What’s the matter” to which deceased replied that ho had cut himself. Mr Rountree said he immediately _ went to his assistance and found him holding the back of his nock with ono hand and on reaching him deceased said he thought ho was done. He wa3 bleeding profusely so Mr Rountree called to Mr Rankin who bandaged him up. Deceased did not speak again. Mr Rountrco expressed tho opinion that deceased must havo been trying to cut somo blackberry when the accident happened. Mr A. J. Thompson, swamp foreman for Messrs Whitaunui Ltd., said that deceased had been working in the 6wamp for tho past three years, commencing this year on March 7th. Ho was a good worker and of a particularly cheerful disposition and held in high respect by all who knew him. The first Mr Thompson knew of the accident was about .3.30 p.m. when the tram driver told him what had happened. Tho men then had deceased about half way out ot tho swamp. He was given every attention possible and attended by a_ doctor. Mr A’Court had been engaged in cutting nax from a four-year-old block, and at tho end of last season somo months ago men had been put on this part of tho swamp to cut down what blackberry was growing. The floor of the swamp was good, being dry and free from hole 3 and timber. It appeared as if deceased, who had finished one cut of flax the whole depth of his break, was approaching the wall of flax near tho tramlino to continue cutting after having tied up his last bundle. Possibly ho mq.de a cut at a piece of dead flax leaf or dry seed stalk and tho hook, catching in an obstacle, possibly left his hand, and had been deflected upward and then descended, edge down on his neck, inflicting the fatal E a3 U* There had been several minor accidents duo to gashes from flax hooks which were kept very sharp, but nothing of a very serious nature or similar to the present case had ever occurred before. A 3 a result of the fatality all cutters ceased work as a mark of esteem to tho memory of their companion. . A sad feature of the accident is that deceased's mother was on a visit to the district from her homo at Waikokopu, Wairoa, and at the time was staying with another son at Rangiotu.