INJURY TO KNEE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 754, 29 August 1929, Page 10

INJURY TO KNEE

WATERSIDER ALLOWED COMPENSATION FALL IN SHIP'S HOLD Medical evidence clashed during a claim for compensation by Alexander Maitland, a waterside worker, against the New Zealand Shipping Company, heard in the Arbitration Court befort Mr. Justice Blair this morning, j Judgment was entered for plaintiff for £2O 11s, additional compensation, £1 medical and £ll 11s expenses being allowed. Mr. A. L. MOnteith, workers’ representative, and Mr. J. L. Schmitt, for the employers, w'ere associated with Mr. Justice Blair. Mr. J. J. Sullivan appeared for plaintiff and Mr. j R. D. Bagnall for the defendant company. Evidence showed that Maitland slipped while working in a hold of the Northumberland at Queen’s j Wharf on January 11 of this year, j His knee became painful and he stop- ! ped work. The New' Zealand Ship- I ping Company paid compensation up j to May 24, at which date Maitland i was considered fit for work. Mait- j land claimed additional compensation ; and medical expenses. Dr. S. A. Bull, who examined plain- j tiff in April, said the right knee joint j was swollen. An X-ray examination showed what was probably a fracture, j but no photograph could show an in- | jury to the ligaments. Maitland, in ; his opinion, was unfit for heavy work I up to the end of July. Francis John Gwynne, a radiologist I specialist, produced photographs j w'hich showed what he thought was probably a fracture.

Dr. E. H. B. Milsom, medical adviser to the Shipping Company, considered there had been no fracture. The abnormality was above the knee cap, w'hereas the blow and swelling were below the knee. He considered Maitland was fit for heavy w'ork on May 20.