COW ELECTROCUTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 50, 21 May 1927, Page 11

COW ELECTROCUTED

CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION WHO WILL PAY? (From Our Oxen Correspondent.) TE AWAMUTU, To-day. The question of liability against claims for compensation for loss sustained through accident was discussed at Friday’s meeting of the Te Awamutu Power Board. Messrs. Houston Bros., Parawera, forwarded particulars of their claim for loss of a cow which had been electrocuted. They also gave the board permission to place barbed wire on their property. The manager reported that he was still in communication with the insurance company, but finality had not been reached. The opinion was expressed that the board paid a premium to be relieved of responsibility and the company should assume that responsibility. If action was taken by the claimants against the board the insurance company would have to take up the position of the claimants. It was stated that the cause of the accident was inconclusive. It was assumed a bird had flown into the wire, causing it to come down. There was, also, evidence that a cow or cows had rubbed against the poles. That may have been the cause of the wire coming down. The chairman thought the company should be written to again urging expedition in settling the claim. Mr. Montefiore asked if the company repudiated liability what was the use of paying a premium? It was decided to ask the company to meet the claim for compensation.