COMPENSATION CLAIMS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1930, Page 6

COMPENSATION CLAIMS

COURT UNABLE TO COPE WITH CASES. vliy Telegraph—Press Association). WESTPORT, May 27.^ When the Court of Arbitration coni-; menced its sitting here to-day, Mr P. J; O’Regan referred to the fact that it was nearly a full year since the court had sat at Westport, and that in consequence a number of injured men had been kept waiting for the disposal of their cases. in other centres, he said, there also was dissatisfaction owing to the infrequent sittings of the Court, rind there wa's grave hardships and injustice to the injured workers who had claims pending. Counsel made it clear that no reflection on the Court was intended; nor did lie blame the employers for stopping the weekly payments, on the advice of medical experts. The remedy, said Mr O’Regan, was to relieve the Court of its jurisdiction in the inn dnstrial cases, thus enabling it to devote the whole of its time to act-idem’-cases. He was certain that a large proportion of such cases would always have to bo litigated, as it was not possible to settle more than a limited number by agreement. Accordingly he took this opportunity, by the Court’s permission, to impress on the public and upon the Government that the alteration indicated was urgently required.

A.JVtr Lovell, who was appearing for the employers in a number of cases, supported Mr O’Regan’s remarks. Mr Justice Frazer, in replying, said that the Court, while anxious to get through its work as expeditiously as possible, bad found itself unable to ' rope with the work on account of the increasing number of compensation cases. Accordingly, be suggested that counsel should make representations to the proper quarter.'