WORKERS' COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 232, 30 September 1902, Page 5

WORKERS' COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS BILL.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Mr. Rail-Jones moved the committal of the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act Amendment Bill. He said there appeared to be a general deling anions the farming community that agricultural labourers came un<kv the operations of the Act, and, •is a result, agricultural labourers ivere generally'insured. This Act specifically included agricultural labourers, and so set at rest all doubt °» the point. With regard to the other provisions of the bill, Mr. HallJones explained that if a man met With au accident, and was not incapacitated for more than 14 days, fee did not come under the Act, but »* his incapacity extended beyond M days, he was entitled to compensa-

tion from the date of the commencement of his incapacity. Almost unanimous approval was expressed of the proposal to bring agricultural labourers within the scope of the Act, and the motion was agreed to on the voices.

On going into Committee on the bill, Messrs. Massey, Jas. Allen and others urged that the Government should agree to an adjournment, and protested against the practice of legislation by exhaustion.

I A motion to report progress was lost by 30 to 15. I Mr. Jas. Allen then moved _ha.t the Chairman leave the chair, and a lengthy discussion ensued, the Opposition continuing to protest against late sittings. Eventually, at 5.10 a-m., Mr. Allen withdrew his motion on the understanding that the first three clauses of the bill should be passed, and a new clause brought down by the Minister next sitting. This arrangement was carried out, the first three clauses of the bill were agreed to unaltered, and, on Mr. Hall-Jones' motion, progress was reported, and the House rose at 5.25 a.m.