ARBITRATION COURT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18230, 14 November 1924, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT.

CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION. Walter Goulds, of Kakaia, and LVa wife Emily Jane Goulds, made a oUim at the Arbitration Court yesterday for compensation for the death of their son Alfred Norman Goulds, who died from injuries received by being- crushed in an engine pHr at Timaru on June 26th, 1924. His Honour Mr Justice Prazcr presided. Mr W. Scott appeared as employers' representative, and Mr H. Hunter, »a the workers' representative.

Mr W. J; Sim conducted the proceedings on behalf of the suppliants, and Mr A. T. Donnelly was counsel, for the Crown. "' " Alfred Norman Goulds was employed as an engine cleaner by the Railway Department. Though both the father and in other were partially dependent on thtfjr eon's earnings, no compensation had been paid by the Department, They asked lor the sum of £SOO as compensation, £2 14s far niedical and euxgic&i attendance, and £l4 16a fid expenses for the deceased's funeral.

Mr Sim said that Goulds was 71 yeaxti of ago, and had a paralyaed arm. He could do no work, and the old people wore living on about £65 a year. They had one son who worked infrequently, and three daughters, -n>ho could not allow them. anything, as they had large famVlies to keep. Mxa Goulds was 60 years of age, and was in receipt of £2 Ss 4d a month of a military pension for a son who had been Stilled in the war. The old people had received £2OO as insurance when their son Alfred Norman had been killed at Timara. The ouppUftnts had Wen actually debited by the Bail way Department for the cost of bringing their dead son home to be buried. Afterwards an officer of the Bail way Department bad called on them and discussed compensation. H« had told, them to make the claim aa light 'as possible. Mr Donnelly said that the Crown wished for the state of dependency to be proved. The, facta seemed to prove that the only payments zsade by the dead son to hia parents wet© on birth dkyo, and they were exaggerated- , ■ A married daughter of the old couple, Violet MwDooald, said it was impossible for h«r dead brother to pay £4O * year to his parent?. She Jwrsoli did not speak to her parents. His Honour in reply to counsel, said that the foot thai the parents had received the insurance money might lead, to a. induction in m for compensation. Decision was reserved.