A WIFE’S DEPENDENCE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 151, 23 March 1938, Page 13

A WIFE’S DEPENDENCE

Claim For Compensation For Death Of Husband The attention of the Second Court of Arbitration was occupied yesterday in hearing a claim toy a widow for expenses and compensation for the death of her husband following an accident. Mr. Justice Hunter presided, with him being Mr. W. E. Anderson (employers’ representative), and Mr. A. W. Croskery (workers’ representative). The claimant was Martha Matilda Mills, widow, Pahiatua, for whom Mr. G. I. McGregor appeared. The defendants were Edward Jaques, builder, Pahiatua, for whom Mr. W. Perry, with him Mr. R. E. Pope, appeared, and Joseph Edward Murphy and Michael Francis Murphy, farmers, Pahiatua. The statement of claim set out that the plaintiff’s late husband, John Wilzliam Mills, plumber, Pahiatua, had met with an accident on May 12, 1937, while working for Edward Jaques, who was executing work for the Murphy brothers. As a result of the accident Mills had died on May 25, 1937, and Mrs. Mills claimed funeral expenses, £27/15/6; medical expenses," £5/4/-; hospital expenses, £6/7/6; and £lOOO as compensation. The defendants admitted the accident and the resultant death of Mills, but denied that Mrs. Mills was totally dependent on her husband, and denied the claim for expenses and compensation. Counsel explained to the court that the question at issue was whether the plaintiff was totally or only partially dependent on her husband at the time of his death.

The court reserved its judgment.