VALUE OF A MOTHER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 601, 3 November 1932, Page 5

VALUE OF A MOTHER.

Argument in Court Claim. SEQUEL TO FATAL ACCIDENT. (Special to the “ Star.”) PALMERSTON N., November 3. How much is a mother worth to hei children ? A ruling on the point was given b> Mr Justice Blair in the Supreme Court in a case in which Herbert Fitzherbert husband of Winifred Fitzherbert, claimed £ISOO from James Bernard Reed, owner of a car which a short time ago was involved in an accident that resulted in Mrs Fitzherbert’s death Plaintiff is suing in the capacity of executor of his wife’s estate, for the benefit of their three children. Counsel for defendant argued that there was no evidence that the son had suffered pecuniary loss through the death of his mother. The mother of deceased (who is also named in the claim) was a lady of independent means, merely living at her daughter’s husband’s home. There could be no suggestion of financial assistance for her. Honor agreed that there could hardly be pecuniary loss. Counsel maintained there had been financial loss to the children. Plaintiff, who had abandoned his own claim, no doubt had lost the benefit of his wife’s assistance, which could probably be measured in money value, but that claim was not before the Court. So Far as the two daughters were concerned, they had lost in every sense the guidance, help and education which could be given to girls by their mother, 3ut counsel contended that that was not capable of being measured in money. His Honor observed that there were i large number of legal authorities to support the contrary view. There were imple authorities to show that for chiliren of tender years—the age at which .hey needed their mother—the loss was mancially compensatable. The same

circumstances probably did not apply * to the son as the daughters, for, although he had lost a good mother, he was nearing manhood. Counsel maintained that any loss suffered in that respect by the children could not be measured in £ s. d. for a compensation claim. His Honor reiterated that there was evidence upon which the Court could award compensation. While the claims of the grandmother and the son could be disregarded, in the case of the two daughters they were probably entitled to a pecuniary allowance, assuming negligence. The case is proceeding.