AN UNUSUAL ACCIDENT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1931, Page 5

AN UNUSUAL ACCIDENT

COMPENSATION FOR LOSS OF FINGER, REE ETON. June \d. What was described by the Arbitva-. tion Court as being an unusual accident was the subject of a successful compensation claim by a man named Blair, a farm worker, against H. G. Greig, of Maruia. Plaintiff stated that he was engaged in shopping firewood for defendant's store, that being part of his duties while employed on the farm. On January 17 lie was splitting a piece of wood which he was holding on a block with bis left hand. On making a blow he missed the wood, the axe caught the side and struck the little finger on the left hand, severing the finger. He was totally incapacitated up to February 20. He was attended by l)r. Conical, and had received no compensation whatever.

In reply to defendant, plaintiff said that ho was not in a particularly bad temper at the time of the mishap. He had been given notice that morning, but had other work to go to on an adjoining farm. It was an unusual accident, stated the court, in giving judgment. There was nothing impossible about it, and it could understand how the little Huger came in the way and was caught by the tail-end of the blade The court could not admit that a man would willingly mutilate himself, although that was suggested. Judgment was given for £B/6/8 for live weeks’ compensation, £T first aid fee, and a lump sum of £36/1/-, a total of £47/13/-, with costs £lO/16/-, anil £2/2/- witnesess’ expenses, and 10/- for the plaintiff, a total sum of £6O/10/-,