ACCIDENT TO WORKER.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1922, Page 5

ACCIDENT TO WORKER.

EMPLOYER’S RESPONSIBILITY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, March 25. In driving a motor at excessive speed whilst in pursuance of an employer’s business does a man in the eyes of the law commit a breach of the regulations which places him. outside the sphere of his employment? This is a question which the Arbitration Court had to decide in connection with a compensation claim for £750 heard yesterday.. The action was brought by the Public Trustee in the estate of Herbert Markham Wright, deceased, against the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Company. It is set forth in the statement of claim that deceased died about October 4, 1921, as the result of an accident at Hutt whilst in the. employment of the defendant company. Deceased left a widow and two children. His average weekly earnings were £6 14s. The defence was that the accident occurred at n time -when deceased was not in any way employed by the defendant company. The society further contended that the fatality, even if it occurred in the course of his employment, was caused by the fact that Wright was intoxicated at the time and was driving a motor cycle at a speed in excess of that provided by the by-laws of the local authority. It also maintained that at the time of his death Wright’s earnings were at a rate exceeding £4OO per annum. After evidence had been heard the court reserved decision.