MANGAPEHI ACCIDENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 335, 8 February 1911, Page 6

MANGAPEHI ACCIDENT.

A SAD STORY. The recent bush-tram accident at Mangapeehi, whereby one man lost his life and anotner was deprived of a limb, wii! be fresh in the mind 3 of our readers. On Monday last Fred Morton, the unfortunate man who was so seriously injured, left the Waikato Hospital, where his left leg had been amputated above the knee, and travelled to Auckland, where he has hopes of obtaining some employment. It appears that the employees of Messrs Ellis and Burnand, Ltd., Mangapeehi, have collected about £SO, which has been handed to Morton as a tribute of sympathy in his sore disaster from his fellow workers. Morton is a tine young man of a somewhat superior type. He is only 27 and a native of Croyden, Surrey. Subsequent to serving nearly six years in the Indian Army he spent about twelve months in the Old Country again, where, after six months employment, without prospects, in the railway service, It; was led to think Ins chances would be greater if he emigrated to New Zealand. He has been here about two years, and was getting on in his occupation when the fatal collision occurred which deprived him of work and health at one blow. Morton has had practical telegraphic experience whilst in India, and was in the Army reserve. Believing that such experience woud be a help to obtaining employment in the New Zealand Post Office he made application, but on Monday morning received an intimation from the department that there was no opening available for him. A further blow was the fact that the Insurance Company which covers employers' liability, does not hold itself responsible for accidents happening to men not actually at work in working hours. Unfortunately, Morton and his mate were going to their work and were not on duty, so no compensation is recoverable. The position then, is this: Here is a fine young fellow, with probably 30 or -10 years of life before him, doomed to deprivation from the joys of life that the majority are able to indulge in, fold by the postal Department that it is not only has no use for him, but in addition, that, as he is now incapacitated, his reserve pay ceases. If ever there was a case where intervention was desirable, this la one We appeal to the member for Taumarunui to interest himself in the matter, so that some occupation of a suitable nature shall be found Morton, where his special qualifications may be brought into service. We are told that th°re is a shortage of boys for the postal service. If that is so, how is the department to obtain its future

trained men? And if there is a shortage of probationers why should not advantage be taken of the services of such a man as Morton? If red tape is allowed to triumph it will be a vicious illustration of the letter of the law being stronger than its spirit,