THE FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 17

THE FARMERS' UNION.

THE TENDERS FOR COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS.

A meeting of the executive of the Farmers' Union of Otago was held on Friday during the show at Tahuna Park. Mr Glass, the organising secretary, who arrived from the north late on the previous evening, submitted the four tenders received from companies and corporations undertaking to relieve farmers of their liability to thpir employees for accidents, etc. It was resolved' to accept the lowest tender, that of the Commercial Union Assurance Company. The members of the executive agreed to do their best to get members generally to insure with the Commercial Union. The secretary was instructed to write and send copies of the agreement to every branch of the union. The Commercial Union Company undertakes to insure members of the Farmers' Union and free them from their liabilities under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act of 1900, the Employers' Liability Act of 1882, and the amending acts of 1891 and 1892, and the liability at common law not to exceed £500 in the case of each individual worker on all men permanently Pinployed and casually employed farm hands, not including those who have to attend machinery driven by steam. The rate is to be 5 per cent. net. The rates for farm work include machinery used by the farmer himself on his own land, and include any liability tbat he may be under in connection with his workmen , or the workmen of any contractor whom he may employ to do his work. The special rates are : Bush-felling and scrubrutting continuously, contract or otherwise, 32s od per cent, net ; bush-felling and scrubcutting, under one week continuous work, 5s per cent. net. The secretaries of the various branches of the Farmers' Union are to collect thjp premiums where required lo do so, and to receive in commission 7^ per cent, for so doing. Mr Glass, the organising secretary, leaves for Invercargill to-day, and will conduct a three weeks' lecturing- tour in Southland He will attend the conference of the Southland branches, to be held at Invercargill Oil December 20, and then proceeds to Nelson and Blenheim.