COMPENSATION FOR EYE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 474, 2 October 1928, Page 12

COMPENSATION FOR EYE

BUTCHER CLAIMS £550 (From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON, Monday. In the Arbitration Court at Hamilton to-day, before Mr. Justice Fraz?r, James Lckford, a butcher of Te Kuiti. claimed £550 15s lOd as compensation for the loss of an eye. Tho defendants, who were represented by Mr. R. D. Bagnall, were Emily Maria Cotter and Frances Elisabeth Mclntosh, batchers, of Te Kui*. The plaintiff was represented by Mr. E. M. Mackersey. In his statement plaintiff said he was employed as head shopman in defendants’ butcher shop at Te Kuiti. On February 2, 1928, his right eye was accidentally injured by a small piece of bone, or some similar substance, entering it- At the time of the accident he was receiving a wage of £5 17s 6d a week. He was incapacitated for nine 'weeks, and he claimed £35 as compensation for this period, £514 10s lOd as compensation for the total loss of the eye, and £ 1 medical expenses. The defendants admitted that Kokford’s right eye had been removed, but denied that the removal was directly due to the injury received on February 2. Giving evidence, plaintiff said that he was 42 years old. When he was 14 his right eye was injured through the bursting of a lemonade bottle. The eye was treated and he recovered from the injury. After coming to New Zealand in 1909 the inflammation of the eye recurred at occasional intervals. Dr. Falrciough told him in 1925 that he might have to lose the eye. On February 2 last he was working a,t bis employers’ shop in Te Kuiti when a piece of bone or other material fell into the eye. An eye specialist in Hamilton on March 2 recommended the removal of the eye. Medical evidence was taken on both sides as to the condition of the eye at the time of the accident and the causes which made it necessary to take it out, and the case was adjourned until Friday, when it will be transferred to Auckland.