COMPENSATION CLAIMS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21367, 11 March 1941, Page 6

COMPENSATION CLAIMS

COURT SITS IN HAMILTON QUESTION OF DEPENDENCY A dependency claim for £312 was advanced by Magdalene Mason Donaldson, married woman, of Huntly (Mr A. L. Tompkins), against the Renown Collieries (Mr H. P. Richmond) before Mr Justice O’Regan at a sitting of the Compensation Court in Hamilton today. The amount claimed represented the loss in income caused by the death of her son, Thomas Elder McEwen, aged 27, who died as the result of an accident suffered on July 3, 1940, while working in defendant’s employ. Deceased had contributed £3 per fortnight out of his earnings toward the upkeep of the household, which consisted of her second husband, one son by the first marriage and deceased, and four children of the second marriage, said Mrs Donaldson. Her husband was in poor health and of the children only two were now working. The defendant company denied the dependency claim, said Mr Richmond, as the deceased was engaged at the time of the accident and would probably have been married shortly. In any case, he paid only board and lodging toward the upkeep of the home. His Honour reserved his decision. Claim Against Sawmill A compensation claim for £IOOO was made by Willmontt Mary Granger, widows of Ongarue (Mr D. H. Hall), whose husband, Frederick Granger, a bushman, was injured wrhile w'orking in a sawmill owned by the Dominion Timber Company. Limited, of Raetihi (Mr A. K. North), on February 7, 1940, and who died in the Taumarunui Hospital on June 3 of pneumonia. Plaintiff’s claim that death was the result of the injuries received in the accident at the sawmill was denied by the timber company. Defendants had paid compensation up till the time of Granger’s death and the amount claimed was compensation for the loss of earnings since that time. (Proceeding)