WORKERS' INSURANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 9

WORKERS' INSURANCE.

STATE SCHEME POSSIBLE. 1 INDUSTRIALISTS' WISH ? EXAMPLE OF SAWMILLERS. (By Telegraph. —Special to " Star. ) WELLINGTON, this day. One of the possibilities of the present committee of inquiry into workers' compensation is that industrialists will ask the Government to take up a State scheme for the insurance of workers in the industrial field. The increasing premiums and the added burden to industry are causing j concern to manufacturers and general industrialists in the Dominion, and the fact that they are committed by resolution of the past industrial conference to some overhaul of the compensation system. especially in relation to hospital and medical allowances, increases their uneasiness. It is no unknown fact that leading employers are dissatisfied with the position they find themselves occupying with relation to the insurance companies, especially as they.are unable to obtain information from the underwriters on the general subject of premiums and claims, and there is undoubtedly a ruling feeling that insurance costs are" too high. As there appears to be little prospect of relief from the companies. most underwriters claiming that there is nowadays little profit accident insurance, the curious situation is presenting itself of employers who are opposed to the principle of State interference in business rapidly appioacliing the point where they will feel driven to ask for a State Industrial Insurance Fund in order to keep down their rising costs. To this decision they are helped by the fact that sawmillers,* whose insurance premiums rose to a very high figure, have established a mutual scheme with excellent results and a general loweiing of the premium. The whole matter is certain to be reviewed by the New Zealand j turers' Association at their next mcctI ing.