A PEER’S BEQUESTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19129, 25 September 1936, Page 11

A PEER’S BEQUESTS

GOLF CADDIES BENEFIT •EMPLOYEES OF CLUB LONDON, July 9. Furl her decisions regarding the late Lord Riddell’s bequests of £IOO each to golf caddies were made by Mr. Justice FarweA yesterday in the Chancery Division. Lord Riddell left. £1,838,900* The caddies wero those employed Jt the Walton Heath Golf Club, which Lord Riddell founded, and problems affecting three different classes of caddies were raised by counsel. According to Lord Riddell’s will, a caddie would benefit “if be lias been in the service of the club for three years prior to iny death.” When ono counsel urged that a caddie who in the three years had been suspended and had been in hospital was “in continuous service,” another protested that it would -be wicked for a person to say lie bad been 12 years at Scarborough when he bad spent only 12 weekly holidays there in the summer. Mr. Justice Farwdl decided: That a eaddio who was on the “guaranteed list” for the three years but, for a short time, was in tho personal service of Lord Riddell, was entitled to benefit.

That a caddie who had been in hospital, and who had been restored to the “guaranteed list” was entitled; and That a caddie who had been suspended and bad been in hospital was also entitled —“because,” said the judge, “I do not understand that, when lie was suspended tho club dismissed him. He was merely, as to his duties, in a state of suspended animation.” Tho duties of another caddie were read as “to replace divots and repair damage to the course.” Mr. Justice Farwell said he regretted that ho could not include this caddie because ho was not employed by the club, but only by a club professional. People who_were employed “on the Saturday prior to my death, including those employed for the night and lialfnight,” in one of six newspaper undertakings, wero to have six weeks’ wages if they bad been for three -years in tho service of their firm.

Tho question arose whether, in addition to those paid each week, those who wero .paid their weekly wages each month, and those who received salaries, were to be included.

Counsel for the class who were paid monthly contended that it. did., not matter whether they were paid “twice a fortnight or once every two fortnights.” (Laughter.) Mr. Justice Farwell found that thebequest was limited to employees in receipt of wages payable either weekly, or calculated on a weekly basis and payable at a longer interval. It did not include employees whose wages were calculated bn any other basis and did not, the judge added, include a man who received about £IOOO a year, payable monthly. Further, Air. Justice Farwell _ found that tho word “wages” must inchtylb “overtime.”

The judge held that people paid by commission, and “street-corner” men employed on Sundays only, did not eomo within the class who benefited. It was with great regret that be came to the latter conclusion, he said. With a decision that a life anrruily of £BOOO to Lady Riddell was not- changed with the payment of the Public Trustee’s income .fee, but that the fee must comb out of tho estate, all the questions raised were settled.