d.

same rights and remedies under the Workers' Compensation Act as if resident in New Zealand. Under this provision dependants resident in Great Britain, Ireland, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Victoria have been brought within the benefits of the Act. 73. An important matter arising for consideration in connection with the apportionment of compensation-moneys is the effect which it may have upon the grant or amount of the widow's pension, by reason that this grant or amount may be affected by the income received by the widow during the pension year. If a share of. compensation-moneys is paid to the widow in a lump sum, such payment (less a special exemption of £100) is regarded as income received during the pension year. If in consequence the widow's total income renders her ineligible for a pension, the effect will be to prevent a pension being granted for a period of twelve months. She can, if she is then eligible, apply afresh for a pension. The work of obtaining a pension for a widow does not fall within the functions of the Public Trustee, and it is not thought that the Office should, on any application for apportionment of compensation-moneys, object to the payment to the widow in a lump sum of the share of such moneys to which she is rightly entitled, merely on the ground that it will affect her rights to a pension ; and, in fact, it is doubtful whether the Public Trustee has any right so to do, notwithstanding that it may be in the interests of the children that their mother should receive a widow's pension. It is considered, however, that in making apportionment the attention of the widow should be drawn to the effect that the proposed apportionment will have on her rights under the Pensions Act, and that in disbursing compensationmoneys held for a widow entitled to a pension or for the benefit of a widow's child in respect of whom a pension is payable regard should be had to the effect that such payment will have upon the payee's pension rights. During the period under review the number of applications made to the Arbitration Court for the apportionment of compensation-moneys was sixty-three, and a number of applications were also made by private solicitors, in which cases reports on such applications were filed by the Public Trustee. Claims for Damages for Personal Injury or Death. 74. The Public Trustee's interest in claims for damages under the Deaths by Accidents Compensation Act, 1908, usually arises in his capacity — (a) As legal representative of a person whose death has been caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of some other person ; or (b) As the personal representative of a person who while employed in^or about a mine has been killed owing to the non-observance in such mine of any of the provisions of the Mining Act, 1926 ; or (c) As the personal representative of a person who while employed in or about a coal-mine, is killed owing to the non-observance in such mine of any of the provisions of the Coal-mines Act, 1925 ; or (d) Under section 13 of the Public Trust Office Amendment Act, 1913, in any cause or matter in any Court where damages are awarded to an infant or a person of unsound mind ; or (e) As the statutory administrator of a mentally defective person who has suffered injury through the tortious act of another. Ten actions were brought by the Public Trustee during the period under review as the legal representative of a deceased person, and the majority of these were prosecuted to a successful conclusion. Section 75, Life Insurance Act, 1908. 75. It is provided by section 75 of the Life Insurance Act, 1908, as amended by section 4 of the Amendment Act, 1920, that a minor of the age of fifteen years or over may, with the consent of the Public Trustee, surrender, give a discharge for, dispose of by will, or otherwise deal with his policy as if he were of full age. This provision is widely availed of by minors who for various reasons find it necessary to deal with their policies. It should be mentioned that the Legislature did not frame this enactment to enable minors to deal with their policies when they think

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