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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 81, 5 April 1930, Page 6

MAIN TRUNK

OHAKUNE CLAIM FOB COMPENSATION. ACCIDENT ON FARM. At the Ohakune Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday the Magistrate, Mr A. M. Watson heard a claim for compensation for an accident. J. E. Cook was plaintiff and W. P. Robertson and C. Gowland were defendants. The claim was under the Workers’ Compensation Act 1922. J E. Cook, said in July last he was working for Robertson on his farm as a farm hand at £1 per week and keep. He worked for him for about a month. While helping him cart firewood, he was pulling a log out of the dray track when a piece of firewood fell on his foot, breaking the ankle. He was in the Raetihi hospital under Dr Feltham and was disabled for about 12j weeks. He claimed £l7 13s 4d compensation ana doctor’s expenses. To Mr Ritchie: It was not on Mr Robertson’s farm that the accident took place. Mr Robertson did not tell him he was working for Mr Gowland when he went to cart the' firewood. As far as he knew the firewood belonged to Gowland. He knew that Robertson was carting firewood for Gowland, but under what arrangement L- did not know. Robertson asked him if he would mind helping with the firewood and that he would raise his wages. He had just finished cutting wood for Gowland when he got the job with Robertson. He had also done milking and digging potatoes for Robertson in between carting the firewood. Mr C. Gowland, wood contractor, said Robertson told him that Cook had been injured. His agreement with Mr Robertson was carrying and trucking firewood. He had let the contract to Robertson and had not paid Robertson wages for Cook. He had authorised Robertson to employ Buckley to do log carting on his behalf and had not authorised him to employ Cook on his behalf. W. P. Robertson, farmer, said he was employed by Gowland. He did not pav Buckley, but had sacked him. He then got Cook to help him. He told him that Gowland would pay his wages but that he would see he got it. His Worship said it had not been established that there was agreement between Gowland and Robertson. It had been established that Robertson paid Cook. Judgment was given against Robertson for £l7 13s 4d. court costs £1 14s, solicitor’s fee, £3 2s 6d.