CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3099, 6 August 1913, Page 7

CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION.

AN UNUSUAL CASE. WELLINGTON. July 30. Tho reserved decision was to-day delivered by Mr Justice Sim on legal points arising iii connection with a compensation claim possessing some unusual features. The Public Trustee, as administrator of the estate of George Roberta, late of luangahua Junction, engineer, deceased, proceeded against M‘Mahon and Loo (Smcaton Dredging Syndicate) for £SOO compensation under .the Workers’ Compensation Act. Deceased was employed as an engineer on defendants’ dredge, and was accidentally killed on March IS, 1912. In May, 1883, he married Elizabeth Thompson and had three children, two of whom lived. On November 12, 1892, ho left England as electrical engineer on the Tongariro bound for New Zealand and never returned to his wife and family. From the time of his departure from England up to tho time of bis death he contributed nothing to the support of his wife and children. Tho Publio Trustee contended that under section 4 of “The "Workers’ Compensation Act Amendment Act. 1911,” the widow was to bo deemed totally dependent on tho deceased. His Honor hold that ns tho widow prior to the death of deceased had supported herself for years she could not be deemed to be a total dependent. Tho case will come on at the next sitting of tho Arbitration Court, when compensation will bo assessed in accordance with hia Honor’s decision.