COMPENSATION COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1931, Page 2

COMPENSATION COURT

GREY-MOUTH, June 5. A compensation claim, 1 Catherine Alary Ureaney (.Mr J\ J. L) Itegan; suppliant in her statement, v. The King (Air l l '. A. ' Kitcliinghainj, which caihie before thcj Arbitration Court yesterday,' presented 'some interesting leaiurcs. The statement of suppliant was to the eifeet that she was the widow ol iDUV|id Paul Groancy, o. Greymouth, coal miner, and there being no executor or administrator of deceased, she was suing pursuant to the provisions ot the Workers’ Compensation Act, 1922, on behalf of herself and children. AY hen an accident cccurreu on October 29, 1930, the deceased had suffered an injury by accident arising out of, and, in the course of his employment at the State Aline at Rewa* nui, in consequence of which his death took place, the accident respiting when he was leaving the colliery by means of the hoist or gpge provided *or the purpose and when in the act of stepping off it he sprained or otherwise injured his left ankle in consequence whereof periostitis and septicaemia supervened, As a result of the,Accident David Paul Greaney died at the Grey Hospital on November 4, 1930, His average weekly earnings calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Workers’ Compensation Act, exceeded £5. Suppliant and her family were dependent on deceased for maintenance and support. His Majesty’s Department of Alines denies liability to pay compensation in respect to her husband’s death. The claim was lor £‘looo compensation and costs and such mrthei relief as may in the circumstances be just. The suppliant humbly prays that Your Majesty will be most graciously pleased to order that right be done in this matter and that Your Alajesty’s Solicitor-General may be required to answer the same. The statement o. defence denied the allegation that deceased met his death by an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment, But admitted that David Greaney died on November 4th,

His Honour said the question was whether it wa K more consistent with knocking his ankle on a hoist or with a germ that mysteriously and suddenly caused the disease, lodging itself lot no apparent reason, and coinciding with the injury sustained in the ankle. All that was required to be put before the medical referee of the happening was that the man stated he had slipped on a stone, If the medical expert said that death was due to natural causes the claimant would lose the case; but if death was caused by the accident the case for the claimant was proved, and judgment would be entered accordingly. Judgment would be reserved until the members of the Court went to Christchurch on June 23, where they would take the opportunity of consulting medical exports in that particular branch. If the case was proven the Court did not desire to keep the lady claimant waiting any longer.