ARBITRATION COURT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18232, 17 November 1924, Page 4

ARBITRATION COURT.

COMPENSATION CLAIM.

Ruby Kcbeeca Smith, 16 year* of age, represented by Mr V?. J. Hunter and Mr L. A. Charles, proceeded against James "Wa'.kcr, farmer, of Dtinaandbl, who was defended by Mr A. T. Donnelly, for such compensation as .tho Coiirt thought reasonable, because of having sustained 66vcre injuries bu burnin" when she was employed as a domestic servant by tho defendant. His Honour ilr Jua'.ice Fraier presided, and with him were Messrs 11. Hunter and \V, Scott.

| The statement of claim set out. that in November, 193), the plaintiff had been severely burned through her clothes haying caught firo while she was attending to the cooking in the kitchen, and for a, time her life had been in danger. For 11 months s!io had undergone special treatment for the bums. At the time of the neeidbht she liild been receiving I's Gd a, week end licr keep. She had received payments from the Government Life Insurance Department on account cf the workers' compensation to ba in full satisfaction of her claim up to June 6th, 192-1. By reason of the accident sho had suffered permanent injury, her* earning powers had been diminished, and general health impaired. In cohscquciieej compensation as the Court thought tit Was fiought; The medical evidence as given by Dts. J. Guthrie, P. S. Poster, and J. P. Whrtter showed that there was deep scarring over «1most tho entire bddy surface. The injuries had made it necessary for her to walls in it shuffling manner. Tho girl had imido a remarkable recovery, but sho had suffered a, very great shock, and her earning power had been affected. * * His Honour said that the case was purely dflc of fact, itiid the only thing for Ihc Court to decide Was how riiiieh compensation should bo allowed. There WiiS tio doubt {hat the girl had suffered Very grave injuries, sind it was nothing less thai) a miracle ih'at she was now alive. Her earning Capacity ha"d been affected and that Would be taken into consideration. Judgment would bo given for 6s n. Week for IS months from June 9th, 1924 (when the compensation ceased), and Ss a week thereafter for IC9 weeks, which was the remaining period of liability. Defendant was ordered to pay costs amounting to £8 Ss, and witnesses' expenses £i lis.