Grocery gift lifts ACC battler

GRATEFUL: Featherston's Allan Payne struggles to smile, because it hurts to stand, but he thanks the anonymous donor for the groceries.PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

Allan Payne is still no further forward in his battle with ACC over his work accident claims, but he and his family had their spirits lifted on Tuesday evening thanks to an anonymous donor.

A Times-Age reader read about Mr Payne's ACC claims that 18 years of spraypainting had crippled him with solvent-induced neurotoxicity, forcing him to stop work last year.

Now, his family struggle to pay the bills.

The donor delivered a large box of groceries to the Times-Age offices. The editor delivered the box to Mr Payne and his family in Featherston that evening.

Mr Payne said it was completely unexpected and hoped he would be able to thank the donor.

The evening was a grim one, with his phone due to be cut off that night, as well as his ability to email.

As the editor departed, the family crowded around the box, with exclamations of delight audible as he shut the gate.

Two ACC "advocates" have contacted the Times-Age, offering help. Both had experienced similar problems with the corporation and were keen to provide advice at no charge.

That includes Mike Dixon-McIver, who undertook a 50-day hunger strike outside the ACC offices in Wellington last year to force a settlement with ACC, after the corporation unsuccessfully took Mr Dixon-McIver for fraud. The case was thrown out, but Mr Dixon-McIver undertook the hunger strike after ACC refused to mediate over damages. He eventually received an undisclosed settlement.

Mr Dixon-McIver is now based in Masterton.