LIABILITY OF EMPLOYERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18514, 27 March 1922, Page 7

LIABILITY OF EMPLOYERS.

UNUSUAL POINT RAISED. (Pee United Pbksh Association.) WELLINGTON, March 25. In driving & motor oar at excessive speed whilst in pursuance of his employer’s businoss, 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 a 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 Markham Wright (deceased) against the • Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Company. It is set forth in the statement of claim that Wright died about October 4, 1921, as of an accident at the Hutt whilst.in the j employment of the defendant company. The deceased left a widow and two children. His average weekly earnings were £6 14s. The defence was that the accident occurred at a time when the deceased was not in any way employed by the defendants company. It is further contended that the fatality, even if it occurred in the course of employment, was caused by the fact that Wright was intoxicated at the time, and that he was driving the motor cycle at anl excessive rate to that provided by the law of the local authority. It is also' maintained that at the time of his death Wright’s earnings were at a rate exceeding £4OO per annum. After evidence had been heard the court reserved its decision.