CLAIMFOR COMPENSATION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2368, 8 December 1908, Page 5

CLAIMFOR COMPENSATION

AN INTERESTING CASE.

JUDGMENT FOR THE CLAIMANT

[Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, Dec. 7. Tho Arbitiution Court has given its decision in the compensation case brought by John Puhi Matthews against Gibson aiuPFyfield. The respondents have a sawmill near Tsumarunui. On the 22nd June last Harry Puhi Matthews, ia sou of tlie claimant, while working at the mill, was accidentally killed. The claimant alleged that he and the other members of his family were partially dependent on the earnings of tho deceased and claimed £2OO as compensation. The respondents disputed their .liability to pay compensation, ■ r (lie ground that the claimant was not the father of the deceased within the meaning of the Workers Compensation for Accidents Act. The chrmant is a Maori. In or about the \car 1889 he took as a .wife a woman named Orewa, who is a Maori,- and a member of the Ngapuhi tribe. The union was arranged in accordance with .Maori custom, but there was nothing in tho nature of a mnr-iage ceremony. Claimant and Orewa have lived together since as nusband and wife, and have had issue nine chi!u r ren. The deceased Harry i uhi Matthews was the eldest of fhc.se ;hire n, and was born-on tlie 4th day of November, 1890. In November, j.L-96, a ceremony of marripge between ulie claimant and Orewa was j error mod, without any license under tlie Marriage Act, by the Rev. Taimoana Hapiraana, a dully, ordained, clergy man of the Church of England. The appreation for arbitration was fll&l in the present case on the 29th' of September last. On the 23rd of October 4:1?e case was partly heard, und then adjourned on the 27th of October ?r d, before the was resum :d, the claimant registered the b'rdi of hie. deceased son, Harry Puhi .Matthc-ws, under the provisions of': - ’l.lie Legitimation Act; 1894,” and oil the same day registered .the births of-three of tho other children, who had been be :u to him and Orewa. Tho o nestion tin at arose on these facts was whether the claimant was the fataer -4 , the deceased Harry Puhi Matth-uvs./ let the purposes of the ..oriiers pensation for Accidents Inc Court held that he was, _ and orae-ed the payment to him of i M 0 oompi nsatiou.