COMPENSATION OF WORKERS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21226, 26 July 1934, Page 12

COMPENSATION OF WORKERS

| AMENDING LEGISLATION I THIS SESSION j A COMPREHENSIVE MEASURE | [From Our Parliamentary Reporter. I ' WELLINGTON, July :!5. A comprehensive measure amending ;hc Workers' Compensation Act. will be introduced to Parliament, this session, according to the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. J. Bitchener, who announced in the House of Representatives to-day that he was authorised, as Acting-Minister for Labour, to make such a promise. Mr Bitchener spoke during the debate on the introductory stage of the Workers' Compensation Amendment P.ill sponsored by Mr W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central), a bill providing for alteration in the method of computing compensation, so as to meet the position of persons on relief works, and tho.se engaged in intermittent employment. Mr Parry said the bill had been before the House on several previous occasions, and. the former leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) had received from the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. CJ. W. Forbes) a promise that the effect of the bill woidd be considered by the Minister for Labour, and that the Government would see what could be done in the way of taking up the measure. That promise had not been made good. Mr Forbes: f have no recollection of having ever made any such promise. I said the bill could go to the Labour Bills Committee. Mr Parry said the bill had not been taken up as promised. All they had received was a statement from the Minister that he had gone into the matter and had arranged with the Stale insurance Department for relief workers to receive a little more than they were entitled to under the act. Quoting from Hansard, Mr Forbes said that all he had done was to inform the late Mr Holland that, nothing could be done with the bill during the 1932 session: but that he would go into the question with the Minister for Labour, and see what, could be done next session. That, was not. n promise to lake up the bill. The Minister had done his best to make an improvement, and Mr Parry's bill would receive every consideration. Mr H. G. R. Mason ('Lab., Auckland Suburbs): As much as the other one? Minister's Statement Mr Bitchener, who takes over the portfolio of Labour from the .Hon. A. Hamilton to-day. saiu he was authorised by Mr Hamilton to state that a comprehensive Workers' Compensation Amendment Bill would be introduced this session. Ho had no information as to the contents of the measure: but he thought his statement would relieve the anxiety of members. The Ministers were just, as humane as the members on the other side of the House, and if he had tho opportunity he would see that a fair thing wa's done by the workers. He had been a. worker all his life, and if he could do anything to relieve their lot he would do so. The bill was read a first time.