COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 12 September 1907, Page 2

COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS.

Per Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. A case, said to be the first of its kind, came before the Arbitration Court this morning, when the Public Trustee, as legal representative of James Ferguson, jun., deceased, acting on behalf of his dependants, claimed £37.4 compensation from the Bruce County Council in respect of injury sustained by deceased in a road-making contract which resulted in his death. Deceased was employed by his father, for this, amongst other contracts, and accordingly the father, who was the contractor, waß bound to indemnify the council against claims under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, and first thing this morning he was bound over as respondent in the action. The result is, according to counsel for the defenoe, that if the claimants are granted compensation, the council may proceed against the father for recovery of the 'amount. Decision was reserved. Claimants refused, an offer of £IOO, with a guarantee that the father was to be freed from all liability in the matter. The court awarded £4OO compensation, less £ll 6s funeral expenses, in the case of the Public Trustee v. Alexander Tyree. The claim was made by the Publis Trustee as legal represents tive of J. R. Mathers, who was killed by a fall from a ladder, on behalf of Mather's infant son. The claim was not disputed. Daniel Cremens claimed compensation from John Campbell Bcgg, his late employer, for incapacity and partial incapacity as the result of an accident met with while bushfalling. Decision was reserved.