LABOURER’S DEATH

Southland Times, Issue 20204, 15 June 1927, Page 5

LABOURER’S DEATH

SEQUEL IN ARBITRATION COURT. CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION SUCCESSFUL. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 14. While working during the last Christmas holidays on the roof of the Wakefield Street Power House, a labourer named John Robertson fell through a skylight and died shortly afterwards from the effects of the accident. To-day in the Arbitration Court, Peter Murray Robertson, father of the deceased, claimed compensation against the City Council on the ground of partial dependency. Evidence was given to the effect that Robertson was earning £4 7/1 a week and resided with his parents to whom he gave £2 a week on an average. He was a single man and was not contemplating marrying. Dealing with the principle on which the Court worked in regard to cases of partial dependency, his Honour said that until some years ago the Act provided that three years’ contribution should be paid as the amount of compensation in all cases. An amendment had been made to the Act whereby the question of compensation was left entirely to the discretion of the Court. The Court had found it difficult to make equal assesment in all cases and for many years past had worked on the basis of the three years’ principle. The Court, he added, had dealt with cases where a man in his forties was the sole support of his mother. When a man was unmarried at that age, it was reasonable to assume that he would continue to support his mother until her death. The amount in such cases was always increased. On the other hand, a man in the twenties was more likely to marry, in which case the three years’ terms was reduced to one year or eighteen months, according to the evidence. Compensation was awarded in the sum of £l2O, £26 10/- funeral and hospital expenses and £6 6/- costs.