COMPENSATION GASES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 124, 28 May 1930, Page 9

COMPENSATION GASES

DELAYS IN HEARING

AST OVERLOADED OQUET

(Br Telegraph.—Press Association.)'

WESTPOBT, 27th Mar.

■When the Court of Arbitration com* menced its sitting to-day, Mr. P, J. O'Regan referred to the fact that it was nearly a year since the, Court had sat at Westport, arid in consequence a number of injured men had been kept waiting for the disposal of their cases. In othef centres there was dissatisfaction owing to the infrequent sittings of the Court and jthe grave hardship and injustice to injured workers who had claims pending. ' • . :

Counsel made it clear that no reflection on the Court was intended, nor did he blame the employers for stopping weekly payments on the advice of. I medical experts. The remedy was to relieve tho Court of jurisdiction in indus- | trial cases, thus enabling it to devote its whole time to accident casps. Ho was certain that a large proportion of such cases would always have to be litigated^ as it was not possible to settle more than a limited number by; agreement. • Accordingly he took the opportunity, by the Court's permission, to impress on the .public and upon the Government that "the alteration indicated was urgently required.

Mr. Lovell, who was appearing ■ for tho employers in a number of cases,' supported Mr. o'Began'a remarks. Mr. Justice Prazer, in replying, said. that the Court, while anxious to get through the work as 'expeditiously as possible, had found itself unable to cope with the work on account of tho increasing number of compensation 'cases. Accordingly, he suggested tliafc [counsel should make.representations ia, <-)£§ ptoge? snartea, ~ "