DOCTORS DISAGREE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 191, 30 August 1937, Page 4

DOCTORS DISAGREE

-Press Association.)

What Caused Farm-Worker's Death? COMPENSATION AWARDED

(By TelegraDh-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. Describing the, case as remarkable, Mr. Justice O'Regan found for the plaintiffs in separate aetions brought in the Arbitration Court at New Plymouth on August 5 against Albert Ernest Goodaere, a fartner, for compensation and funeral expenses in respcct of a former employee, Leslie Jacklin Hardgrave, Hardgrave was killed while driving a hay-rake on defendant's farm on Match 30. The sum of £104 is awarded an infant, Robert Leslie Ferguson, who claimed , through his guardian, £572 as a total dependant. The father of the deceased, Thomas Haydgarve, is awarded the amount of the funeral expenses. Conflicting medical evidence is summarised by his Honour in his judgment. The testimony of Dr. Thomson, who carried out the post-mortem examination, was that death was caused by Buffocation, and his . conclusion was that the deceased was thrown forward from his seat when the hay-fork, carried behind the seat, fouled the spokes of the wheel of the machinc, which was then pulled over him. A contrary opinion of Dr. Gi^on was that death was due to an inspiration of vomit while the deceased wus still sealed on the rake. After referring to evidence that ihe machine skidded on a steep inclme after it was clieeked by the sprigging of the wheel, His Honour commented: "Dr Giesen admits that death from inhalation of vomit is very rare. We tbing it much more likely that death occurred after Hardgrajve had been jerlced to earth. The evidence shows he had complained of and been treated for indigestion, and hence would retadily vomit. Under alL circumstances it would be a most * extraordiiin.ry thiug had lio ehanced to inhale vomit and die at tho very instant .that tfie skid occurred.