LOSS OF FINGERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23661, 21 May 1940, Page 10

LOSS OF FINGERS

MACHINE ACCIDENT GIRL CLAIMS DAMAGES DEFENDANTS DENY NEGLIGENCE An accident to a girl machinist in the employ of Mono Containers (N.Z.), Limited (Mr. West), on May 24, 1939, was tlio subject of a claim for damages brought before Mr. Justice Fair and a jury in the Supremo Court yesterday. Plaintiff was Gladys May Clemm, aged 20 (Mr. Finlav), who lost part of three fingers- of her right hand when it was caught tinder the descending head of a press machine she was working. For this injury she claimed £ISOO general and £7 Is special damages. A sum of £42 8s had been paid by the defendant company to plaintiff as compensation under the Workers Compensation Act. Plaintiff was engaged in producing round disc lids for cartons when the accident happened, and it was claimed that tlio machine was dangerous and was not adequately guarded as required by law. The company denied that it had been guilty of any negligence and said the machine was adequately guarded and that' it was willing to pay what was due under the Workers Compensation Act.

Air. Finlay said this common Jaw action was based on the claim that this girl's injury was due to breaches of duty on the part of her employers. The guard provided was never anywhere but up and up sufficiently far to let a linnd go in under it. Counsel said the girl was given no instruction or warning at all, and ]0 minutes after she had been placed at the machine it got her hand. Evidence for plaintiff had not been completed when the Court adjourned until this morning.