COMPENSATION CLAIM

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 March 1922, Page 5

COMPENSATION CLAIM

li AN INTERESTING POINT. 1 • RESULT OF MOTOR ACCIDENT [ (Par Press Association.! AVELLINGTON, March 25. “In driving a motor at an excessive speed whilst in pursuance of his employer’s business, does a man in the eyes of the law commit a. breach of the regulations which places him outside the sphere of his employment?'’ This is the question -which the Arbitration Court has to decide in connection with a compensation claim for £750, heard yesterday. The action was brought- by the Public Trustee in the estate of Herbert Alarkham Wright, deceased, against the Colonial Alutual Life Assurance Company. It was set forth in the statement of claim that deceased died about October 4, 1921, as the result of an accident at Hutt whilst, in the employment of the defendant company. Deceased left a widow and two children. His average weekly earnings were £6,14/-. The defence was that the accident 1 occurred at a time when deceased was not in any way employed by the defendant company. The Society further contended that the fatality, even if it

occurred in the course of his employmenl, was caused by the fact that S Wright was intoxicated at the time 1 ami was driving a motor-cycle at a speed in excess of that provided by the by-law of the local authority: it was also maintained that at the time of death AV right’s earnings were at a rate exceeding £4OO per annum. After evidence had been heard, the Court reserved its decision. I -