DEATH OF MILKMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 221, 17 September 1924, Page 7

DEATH OF MILKMAN.

COMPENSATION CLAIMED. CASE UNFINISHED. The Auckland sittings of the Arbitration Court concluded yesterday afternoon with the hearing of a claim for full compensation by Ethel Beriff, widow, of Herbert John Beriff, a milkman, whose death was caused by heart disease, , alleged to be due to a sudden strain received while employed by the defendants, Amburys, Ltd. Mr. Mason appeared for plaintiff and Mr. Richmond for defendant. The evidence in support of the claim was that Beriff apparently enjoyed good health, but on returning home one morning after delivering milk for defendants, by whom he was employed, he was in ■ a bad condition, and quite changed. He explained that lie had stumbled while on his rounds, and the sudden jar had 1 produced the strain. Prior to the acci- ; dent Beriff bad a weak aortic valve, but • there had never been any cause for alarm. The plaintiff herself said she was not aware her husband had a bad heart before his death. The defence was a denial of the allegations set out in the statement of claim. Dr. E. B. Gibson said that until after the man's death there had been no history of any" accident. It was inevitable . there should be a breakdown, and even if he had not had the strain, Beriff could not have continued work much longer. Thomas H. Chapman said there was no mention of an accident in the reports. It was an accepted fact at the company's premises that Beriff had suffered from a weak heart. The case was unfinished when the Court rose. Further evidence and argu- . ment is to be written and forwarded to the Court.