Truth A WIDOWS CLAIM.

NZ Truth, Issue 111, 3 August 1907, Page 4

Truth

A WIDOWS CLAIM.

Published Every Saturday Morning AT LUKE'S LANE (OFF MAMNERSstreet) , Wellington, N.Z. SUBSCRIPTION (IN ADVANCE), 13S. ■nnn A "N.TXTTTRT

SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1907

This paper again wishes to draw public attention to the claim on the Government, made by the widow of the late Captain Christian Stenerson, who, with three others, lost their lives while sound-ing at the Karamea Bar, m June, 190 U. It was generally believed by all who knew anything of the nature of the work that the claim for £400 against the Government, under the Workers' Compensat; on Act, would have succeeded, and the conclusion arrived at by the Court, that the deceased man was only a contractor, came like a thunderbolt ito those engaged m furthering the widow's claim. The circumstances, sad and cruel as they are, under which a father and a bread-win-ner lost his life, need not be repeated here. Nevertheless,, the fact that the Government, after having worsted the widow woman m the Law Courts, have offered her a compassionate allowance of £200, is a sufficient indication to this paper to justify the assertion that it is more than common humanity that is actuating the Cabinet m ottering this' sum to the woman. It is no use mincing matters, and it is just as Well to come to the point. Stenerson was sworn to as having engaged on a contract, and the solitary statement of this fact was made by one Thompson, a beardless youth, attached to some Government .Department m Wellington, who seems to have displayed as much intelligence and knowledge m the work he was engaged m as the tohunga shows when he is asked ' anything about morbid

anatomy. Tho idea of a cadet, who ought to be back at school having his education finished, being placed m a position to send men out to sea to take soundings at such a place as Karamea, seems, anyhow, to "Truth," just m keeping with what generally happens, when influence, and not abiHty, goes for .everything m the Government Service. That the Government should, simply because this barefaced youth Thompson says. Stenerson was a contractor and not even a temporary Government employee, persist m sheltering itself behind the very insecure shelter afforded by tjie brat Thompson, is more than "Truth" or anyone else can divine. If Thompson had thoroughly understood his work, had toe properly appreciated his position and therefore the value of human life, it is doubtful if Stenerson or the three or ' four men with him, would have embarked m such a frail craft on such a day as it was on which their lives were lost. Had the survivor, an engineer, or what this snipe Thompson classes himself, been a man of experience, something 'differ.en't might have been told to-day. As it is, human lifehas' been lost, if not actually sacrificed, and it is only right and just that the Government should make what recompense it can, particularly when one of the drowned men was a husband and' a father and the mainstay of his family. The idea of a paltry £200 being offered, and then tied up m tbo hands of trustees, to a struggling and oppressed woman and a young family for the loss of- a husband and father is something Sir Joseph Ward as Premier, should he ashamed of. "Truth" expressed the hope that there would be no occasion to* touch on the matter again, and I'hat the Government would do the woman justice. But what do we find ? After the poor, struggling woman runs the whole gauntlet of long, and curious snouted messengers and clerks m the G-overnment Offices and succeeds m reaching the Ministerial ear, she is t.old that , tike Government is doing a special favor m offering her £200. Special rot !. The Government owes a special duty to that woman, whose battle for . the past twelve months has, through long illness and incessant toil- to care for herself and her little ones, been bravely fought. The Government will hear more of the matter. ,A petition is to be presented to Parliament, and members should make themselves fully acquainted with the scant and scurvy treatment which this brave little woman has received. Bereft of her husband, whose life, we say advisedly, was sacrificed through the ignorance of some nincoompoop., the least thing this Government; ouight to have done was to have acceded to her reqiuest for tjhe. sum of £400. Naturally, the woman is diffident to have all her hardships told to the world. Suffice to say, the fact that she should have wanted at all is m itself a cruel commentary, on a Government that employs such rotters as this kid Thompson. When the petition is pre*sented to' Parliament T it. is to he hoped that the Government v/ill see its way clear to provide for Mrs Stenerson and her children. She .wants to erect; a home on the West Coast, and proposes to start a little business. In her present circumstances the latter is impossible unless tho Government 'does what is only the right thing by her and her little ones.