ARBITRATION COURT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18264, 24 December 1924, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT.

COMPENSATION CLAIM. The Arbitration Court has pronounced its judgment in the case in which Walter Goulds, of Itakaia, labourer, claimed from his Majesty the King the sum of £SOO, as compensation to himself and his wife, for the death of their eon, Norman A. Goulds, a railway employee, who died from, injuries received in a «shunting accident at Tirnaru, in June last. The only questions for the Court to adjudicate upon were (1) the amount of compensation to be awarded; and (2) the deductions (if acy) to be made therefrom. Goulds and his wife, it was stated, were old people, who received some assistance from their son, tho amount being estimated at between £3O and £4O per annum. Tho Court was of the opinion, however, that thia amount was overstated and expressed tho opinion that latterly the amount was not more than £lO. The Court fixed the amount of compensation at £3O, the sum to be divided between Goulda and his wife. Concerning the benefits received by a claimant fes the result of the death of "a worker the judgment stated that in tho present case the supplian* had become entitled) to the proceeds of a life insurance policy for £2OO, effected by deceased, and to n. sum of £29 10s lOd in the Savings Bank. It was contended by tho Crown that no corarxmsation could be awarded on the grounds* that Goulds had not Buffered any pecuniary Wa as the .result of his son's death. So far as the money standing to deceased's credit in tho Savings Bajik was concerned tho Court was satisfied that it must be taken into account. The insurance money should not be taken into account. After reviewing the jeetions of the Act dealing with insurance, the Court concluded: Inat euppliant in our opinion is net entitled to judgment for compensation in his own right, for the moneys receivable in respect of deceased's Savings Bank account aro greater than the £ls, to which he would otherwise be entitled. He is, however, entitled to a, sum of £34 13s 2d for medical expenses occasioned by the accident to and the death of his son. H« is also entitled to judgment for £ls compensation on behalf of his wife, and that sum is to be paid into Court for Cost*. £3 sa, and witnesses' expenses to be settled by the clerk of awards were allowed.