COMPENSATION CLAIM.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17414, 27 March 1922, Page 2

COMPENSATION CLAIM.

AN INTERESTING POINT. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELECKAM.) WELLINGTON, March 25. In, driving a motor at an excessive speed while in the pursuance of his employer's business, does a man, in the eyes of the law, commit a breach of the regulations which places him outside the sphere of his employment? This i 3 the question which the Arbitration Court lias to decide in connexion with a compensation claim tor £750. , x , Tiie action which was heard yesterday was brought by the Public irustee in the estate of Herbert Markham Wrigiro, deceased, against the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Company. it was set forth in the statement-of claim that deceased died about October 4th, 11'21, as a result of an accident at the Hutt while in the employ of the defendant '-company. Deceased left a widow and two children. His average weekly earnings were £6 14s. The defence was that the accident occurred at a time when the deceased was not in any way employed by the defendant company. The company further contended that the fatality, « V en if it occurred in the course of deceased's employment, was caused, by the fact that Wright was intoxicated at the time, and was driving a motor-cycle at a speed in excess of that provided by the la.v of the local authority. It also maintained that at the time of his death Whight's earnings were at a rate exceeding £4OO per annum. After evidence had been heard the Court reserved ite decision.