WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17631, 7 December 1922, Page 12

WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

THE NEW ACT. I The Secretary for Labour, Mr F. W. j Rowley, under instructions from the Hon. U. J. Anderson, Minister of Labour, lias issued a circular letter setting out the principal alterations made last session in the law as to workers' compensation for accidents. The circular states:— ' 'Hie Workers' Compensation Act, 1922, is chieny a consolidation, but attention is called to the following amendments: — 1. The proportion of a worker's average weekly earnings that is payable in the case of total or partial incapacity has been increased from 55 per cent, in the old Act to 58 per cent, (section 5) (5 and 6)'. 2. The amount of damages that may be recovered by a worker from an employer in an action in respect of the negligence- of a fellow servant has been increased from £750 in thvi old Act to £IOOO (section 67). 3. In the old Act a domestic servant in private employ was not covered by the Act unless the period of service was not less than seven days. This has now been altered to 3 days. (First j Schedule.) 4. The second schedule has been altered by providing a compensation of 10 per cent, of the full compensation | that would be payable for total incapacity for the total loss of a big toe (instead of 5 per cent., as formerly). 5. In the old Act when a judgment for compensation had been obtained by a worker from the Court, it was not possible for him to proceed for dam- | ages, even although the amount of the I judgment had not been actually paid. I and similarly where judgment had been recovered for damages it was not possible to proceed for compensation. This provision has now been altered so that judgment for damages or compensation (as the case may be) is no bar to further action if, after all reasonable steps j have been taken to obtain satisfaction, the amount of the judgment has not been paid.

6. Section 14 (2) now provides that when a worker is a member of a friendly society or similar organisation, no deduction shall be made on that account from the compensation o r medical, surgical, or funeral expenses to vrbHi be may be entitled under the Act."