§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state for what reason is William Welsford, established shipwright, Devonport, denied the injury compensation of twenty-four-sixtieths of his average weekly earnings, being the amount guaranteed by the Admiralty, under their contracting-out agreement, seeing that his capacity to contribute towards his own support has been totally destroyed, and that the incapacitating injury occurred more than a year since.
(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The award in Welsford's case was based on the report of the Fleet surgeon in November, 1903 that his capacity to contribute to his own support was not totally destroyed, but was materially impaired. Since then, in March, 1904, a further report has been received stating that Welsford cannot now do anything to support himself. The award will be reviewed in November next, when, if there is no improvement, it will be increased to twenty-four-sixtieths. In cases of injury to the head resulting in brain mischief it is always for some time doubtful whether the effects are permanent or to some extent temporary.