COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENT

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 207, 30 August 1916, Page 8

COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENT

piSBtTRSEMEIfT BY TBS BUBXJC TRUSTEE. 'f^jßj^Telegrspu.—° Wß Corespondent) '/K 1 w.ATrTT, this day. - ' (Ahx-cent fatal accident has brought to light an important amendment; to tho Workers' Compensation Act, of which, ouriottsly enough, the workers as a whole are entirely ignorant. The Miners' Union officials here knew nothing about it, and investigation shows that even prominent Labour men in Auckland are equally in the dark in the matter. The amendment was brought about by the Amendment Act of 1913, and deals with, the compensation payable to the dependents of a worker who has been killed, or who has died as the result of injuries received The amendment reads as follows: "Where the amount of the compensation money due in respect of the death of a worker has .been arrived at, whether by the judgment of the Court of Arbitration or otherwise, the employer or other person liarble to pay the same shall, unless the Court otherwise orders, pay the same to - the Public Trustee; and the receipt of the Public Trustee, or if anyone authorised by him in that behalf, shall be a complete discharge to such employer or other persons." Heretofore the amount of the compensation was payable in a lump 6um. As far as can be gathered here, the chief objection against the amendment is that it places the disbursement of the compensation on practically the same footing as that of charitable aid. It appears that the amount payable weekly depends upon the report of the agent of the Public Trustee, who is required to interrogate the dependents or widow, and it is submitted that such agent is placed in the position of a relieving officer under the Charitable Aid Act. There is a provision that, providing the widow or other dependents show cause for same a lump sum not exceeding £175 may be paid. There- may be strong argument in favour of the atnend|ment, but the remarkable aspect of the | matter is that neither the union officials nor the men themselves know anything about it. One would imagine that such lan important amendment would hare been fully disoussed by the unions generally. LOCAL OPINION. A WISE PROVISION. " ! When the foregoing matter was mentioned to various Labour leaders this morning they stated that they did not know very much about the amendment, but were disposed to believe that it was a very proper provision. On the question being referred to Mr. C. Brockway Rogers, who conducts claims for workers under the Workers' Compensation Act, he said that having experience of the operation of the Act under the old system and the new, he was satisfied, that the amendment was necessary in' the interests -of dependents, and.was.working well tinder the direction of- the Public Trustee. It simply meant that where there were ■ dependents who were not of age or who were inexperienced,' the State saw to it that they were not left. a prey to rogues and money sharks. Numerous cases had' come under his j notice in which .a young wife 1

with children was quite McajabU _r dealing properly with a large sit. S compensation. She was entitled ?*_■ - third of the amount in a lump sma, wthe remainder, which was reserved the children, could be paid out ia _rJn amounts, as the Public Trustee •»»__ for their upkeep and education.-a _J operation of the amendment' depend? upon the order of the Court, andr" the sum was transferred to theTfoiZ it was his belief that it was wiseh/_? ministered. . /f ** Mr. E. Phelan, of the Timber Work__< Union, remarked that the i the Act had been well known and m. predated by him ever since its introdJi*' tion. He could quote numerous ca*_ _'** [which its operation was giving 'erer* satisfaction. It was framed for S'" protection of women and children »_rl was practically a State guarantee, tbat they should not be wronged. *Mr Phelan said that of course _e*:*conl4 < speak only for the Auckland district, and he felt that he was expressing, ftg opinion of other secretaries ' when lv mentioned the able and tactful administration of Mr. E. F. Warren, the manager of the Public Trust office. "-V**..