COMPENSATION CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1592, 2 November 1905, Page 4

COMPENSATION CASE.

. ! (Per Press F As«oaiatian.) , r Wellington, Tuesday. ; The Arbitration • Court'.Presidoiit s' doliyored judgment'of the Cqurt in 'tfie case of the Public Trustee v. 0. A. MoDoDald apd Co. This was a olaim 'under the Sorters’ Compensation for Acoidents Act, 00. The special case stated for tbe opinion of the Court waaswhether dependents domiciled out of the colony of New Zealand are entitled to compensation in rqspeot of the death of; Arthur Furlonger, a,worker on whose they were dependent. This is the firat caad in whioh it bps become necessary ',to consider tbe question in the colony, and so far as tbe Court is aware it hasVhot been settled. ; \yith reference to the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1897, in England, the Court had oome to the cbnolusion that lopking at the very various conditions prevailing there were reasons from which it might be properly inferred that the Legislature did not intend to restrict the benefit either to British subjects or to persons domiciled or resident within the colony. It was quite clear that if any workman, no matter what hie allegiance or domioile might be, suffered personal injury by accident arising out of, and in the course of, his employment in New Zealand, he was personally entitled to compensation. On the whole, the Court was satisfied that the Legislature inteaded to treat alike all workers in New Zoelsnd, and to extend the benefits of the Aot to tbe dependents ooming within tbe description of “ members of tbo worker’s family ” in the first schedule, irrespective of the worker’s allegiance or domioile. The.Gourt answered the special case accordingly, and allowed the .Publio Trustee £7 7a costs and disbursements as 'costs of arguing the case. .