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Five New Australians
Fire Damages
Five New Australians who lost all their belongings
when their hut at Bailup was destroyed by a bushfire
on January 12 applied in the Supreme Court today for
damages against the employers.
They alleged that sawmill owners Malcolm Smith
and Sons had been guilty of negligence by not taking
proper precautions against
fire on their property.
Labourer Jan Peterek said
that about 12.25 p.m. on Janu
ary 12 he saw a fire burning
near the smouldering sawdust
heap.
About 3 p.m. a millhand told
Mm that his hut was on fire.
He rushed over to the burning
hut and tried to enter, but was
stopped by another man.
Peterek said that he lost
everything in the fire except
the working clothes he was
wearing.
Constable M. K. Brown said
that the fire appeared to have
started about 50yd. from the
smouldering sawdust heap.
He had reported that he
could not ascertain how the
fire had started. Peterek had
told him that he had been to
the hut that day for lunch
and had smoked two cigar
ettes.
(PROCEEDING).
[Before Mr. Justice Wolff. Dr. J. S.
Marian for the new Australian, Mr.
O. J. Negus for Malcolm Smith and
Sons!.
$