UNUSUAL COMPENSATION CLAIM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3924, 28 March 1929, Page 3

UNUSUAL COMPENSATION CLAIM.

WIDOW GRANTED £930. Auckland, March 26. •Finding that John (Chandler Hill, of Ngaruawahia, was insane When he committed suicide, and that his mental condition was directly traceable to an accident he suffered .while in the employ of Waipa Railway and CoUeries, Ltd., Mr. Justice Frazer awarded £930 compensation to the widow of the deceased in respect of the accident. The aimount payable to the widow will be less sums already paid by the deceased’s employers, who were the defendants in the action. The ease was heard ait Hamilton recently and was stated to be unique in the history of New Zealand compensation claims. On November 17, Hill was thrown -from a trolly when it got out of control and sustained injuries. Though a cheerful man previously, -he afterwards appeared to Ibe terrified as if he were haunted and committed suicide on- January 8. Mr. Justice Frazer said that there was evidently a mental change within a few days after -the accident, but it was not of such a nature as to be considered insanity. There was doubtless an element of neurasthenia in the case, but the subject matter of deceased’s delusions was something quite apart from fear of unemployment or incurable injury that was usually met in ordinary neurasthenic cases of men of normal -disposition. The history of the ease, as given was evidence of a -mental change directly caused by the accident. The -Court was satisfied that the plaintiff had established her claim to compensation.