FIREMAN'S ACCIDENT

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 110, 10 May 1916, Page 8

FIREMAN'S ACCIDENT

COMPENSATION AWARDED.

A compensation case of long standing was finally disposed of by the Arbitration Court to-day, His Honour Mr. Justice Stringer presiding, and Messrs. W. Scott a\id J A. M'Cullough also being on the bench. The case was that of Win. Jas. Smith, fireman, v the Union S.S. Co. Mr. P. J. O'Regan appeared for plaintiff, arid Mr. P. Levi for the defendant company. On 31st January, 1915, plaintiff fell down the stokehold of the Maitai and injured his skull. The case first came before the Court in September last, when the defence was that the plaintiff had recovered from the injury caused .by the fall, and that the epileptic lite from which he suffered were not the result of the accident. The Court ordered weekly payments of £1 3s Id, but gave leave to defendant company to apply if additional evidence were obtained. The company produced additional evidence at the last sitting of the Court, but the Court decided that weekly payments must continue. On this occasion application was made on behalf of plaintiff for the award of a lump sum of compensation. Mr. O'Regan said that plaintiff could not support himself on. the weekly payment, but if a lump sum were awarded he could be sent to England, where he would be amongst his friends.

Medical evidence was somewhat in conflict as to the plaintiff's prospeefs of life,

The lump sum claimed was £252 14s 6d. The Court decided to award £200, £25 to be paid in cash and the balance to be placed in the hands of the Public Trustee. Costs were allowed Mr. O'Regan.