COALMINER’S DEATH

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1037, 30 July 1930, Page 16

COALMINER’S DEATH

WIDOW SEEKS COMPENSATION FROM COMPANY CLAIM AMOUNTS TO £I,OOO Further medical evidence was heard yesterday afternoon in the compensation claim by Sarah Ann Mason for £I,OOO from Glen Afton Collieries, Ltd., arising from the death of her husband, William Mason, miner, in the Waikato Hospital on December 15, 1929. Tho claim, which was continued today, is being heard before Mr. Justice Frazer. It is claimed that while in the employ of the company in its colliery at Glen Afton, Mason received an internal injury causing intussusception, and that whether a pre-existing aneurised condition was aggravated by the strain of lifting a bar when at work, or whether his condition was due to that entirely, his death was due to injury by accident. Mr. P. J. O’Regan, of Wellington, is appearing for plaintiff, and Mr. 11. P. Richmond, of Auckland, for the defendant company. Mr. Richmond submitted that there was no case to answer. The medical evidence had been purely speculative, and no authority had been adduced. The evidence had not presented any body of medical belief from which the court could draw the inference that death was due to accident. The court adjourned for the consideration of the plea for a non-suit, but upon resuming, his Honour said that there was some medical evidence upon which the court could find in favour of plaintiff, although a great deal of it had been speculative. The court had not made up its mind, and it must know the other side before deciding.