CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17937, 4 December 1923, Page 11

CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION

A UNIQUE CASE. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TF-LEGRiIT.) "WELLINGTON. December 3. A claim was made in the Arbitration Court to-day by George Byan, a waterside worker, against tlig Union Steam Ship Company, Limited, for compensation for the loss of an eye, resulting from an accident, whilst plaintiff was working for the defendant company.

Mr P. J. o'Began appeared for plaintiff, and Mr C. J. "White for the Union Steam Ship Company. Mr o'Regan said lie ihought;;,tlie case was absolutely unique because the planitiff was over 90 years of age when he was injured. It was a remarkable thing that a man of that age should be doing the work of a waterside worker. Mr O'Regan added that plaintiff was not ostensibly 90 years of age when he was hurt. Plaintiff was now 04 years of age.

Tho company in its statement of defence said that phiintiff bad on June Sth, 1921, recovered from his injuries, in so far as beiug totally incapacitated for work was concerned, and the company was on that date prepared to pay to plaintiff a lump sum in settlement of his claim under the Act, but owing to plaintiff's great age be was unable to Jind employment, and oy arrangement the company continued weekly payments of £2 18s 6d, in lien of settling for a lump sum. The company had paid in all the sum of to plaintiff, whereas the company's total liability under the Act amounted to £302 3s 6d.

iln view of the payments made by the company, and the age of plaintiff and all the circumstances, it was agreed that the proceedings should be discontinued to enable a settlement to be arj rived at.