WATERSIDE WORKERS' CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 118, 9 August 1927, Page 3

WATERSIDE WORKERS' CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

STRUCK BY FALLING BALES An action involving a total claim of £I,OOO was commenced before Mr. Justice Stringer and a jury of 12 in the Supreme Court this morning. Frederick Hoy and Robert Lee Bennett, waterside workers (Mr. P. J. O’Regan) sought to recover £ 500 damages each from John Ernest Anderson and William Edward Webster, carriers (Mr. L. P. Leary) for alleged negligence on the Prince’s Wharf whereby both plaintiffs were injured. Mr. O’Regan stated that the plaintiffs were employed by the Union Steam Ship Company, and on March 21 last they were assisting to load the Wingatui. In the course of their work they were compelled to pass beneath a chute down which goods were sent and thus loaded on the ship. It was while passing beneath the chute at different times that the plaintiffs each were struck on the head and shoulders by a bale of goods. The injuries received had caused a cessation of work, and. in the case of the plaintiff Hoy, it was stated that he would not be fit for work for 12 months. The defence will be a denial of negligence, and that the plaintiffs did not exercise sufficient care in passing beneath the chute. (Proceeding.)