INJURED WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 303, 18 September 1936, Page 10

INJURED WORKERS

Compensation Act To Be Liberalised Details of the proposed amendments to the Workers Condensation Act to be introduced this session were discussed yesterday by the Minister ot Labour, Hou. 11. T. Armstrong. I’he major alterations to the law are being postponed until next session and Hie amendments to be made this session will be designed chiefly to remove existing anomalies Mr Armstrong said the effect ot this session’s Bill would lie to Increase the minimum comixMisution in fatal accidents frojn £3OO to £5OO, to provide that the weekly payment should not be less than £-’ in any compensation case instead of the present minimum of £l, and to alter the computation of average earnings. “It will not be necessary to go back over the year and ascertain what the worker actually earned,” Mr Armstrong continued. “At present the position of relief workers and others Is adversely affected by lhe existing procedure. ' Under the Bill, compensation will be granted to lhe extent of 66 2-3 ;>er cent, of the actual rate being earned at the time of the accident. A man earning 16/- a lay at lhe time of an accident may be found to have averaged onl.i I*/ a day for the preceding year However, under the amendments compensation would be based on the 16/- rate. This will remove an anomaly that has given trouble for years.”

The Minister added that at present an employer or an insurance company on the report of a doctor could.stop u mhn’s compensation and the man himself would have to bring the matter before the court if he desired to appeal. Many workers were actually starved into agreeing to a settlement of their claims. An amendment would bring the law Into conformity with that of England and compensation would have to be computed by the court or through medical referees. Another amendment would provide that compensation •should rank with wages in cases of bankruptcy.