ILLNESS THROUGH EXPOSURE

Evening Star, Issue 19855, 2 May 1928, Page 13

ILLNESS THROUGH EXPOSURE

INTERESTING COMPENSATION POINT [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, May 1. A compensation claim of interest to employers of outdoor labour w r as beard before Mr Justice Frazer in the Arbitration Court to-day, when the duct point at issue was whether an employee who contracted illness through exposure to rain in the course of his work could be said to have been the victim of an accident within the meaning of the Workers’ Compensation Act. The plaintiff (Harry Bresaut) claimed from the Northern, Steamship Company compensation for time lost and medical expenses incurred when he was incapacitated for two weeks with an attack ol muscular rheumatism, alleged to have been caused through exposure while engaged in dun painting for the defendant company. During tho work he was exposed to heavy rain. . Counsel for the defence said the case was brought to obtain the court s ruling. The defence, while making general denial of the circumstances, contended that the falling of ram in tho course of ship-cleaning work was nob an untoward or unlooked for occurrence, and any such conditions which, it was alleged, had caused plaintiff’s illness were such as would be normally anticipated. . . “Could the plaintiff, on arriving home after having received a wetting, have told anyone that he had met with an accident?” asked counsel. _ The court reserved its decision.