STATE MONOPOLY.

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 142, 17 June 1924, Page 7

STATE MONOPOLY.

OF ACCIDENT INSURANCE

FAVOURED BY TRADES AND LA BOim COUNCIL.

A statement to the effect that members of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council -wore unanimously in favour of State monopoly of workers' accident insurance was mads to a "Post" reports? to-day by Mr. J.. Bead, president of the council, who went on. to give the reasons advanced during the discussion on the subject at the last meeting of the roimcil. Mr. Head said that the question of accident insurance very closeiy attached to the workers and their "wives and families at the time- when injury took place. Under State monopoly "there was no doubt that cheaper premiums would rule, owing to the fact that there would be less overhead charges than under tliu present system when piiv;;ie companies were competing for the trade That would mean a smaller charge on indrs-ti-y in meeting accidents which toy': place. It .was "also held that the trouble which sometimes arose at present with regard to workers ssuuring compensation would not be so likely Id aiise if the State had ;: monopoly of the butiness. ■ If a worker was unable to si^ure payment from a legitimate source—that was, compensation—he was entirely thrown upon some source of charily, and in fully So per cent, of the cases that would mean that the injured worker, whose case was net met oy compensation, "would become a public charge of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. So, in any case, the public fund would have to meet the charge. For that reason, it was less likely that the State would, be so particular as private companies in matters of comnensntion.

It had been unanimously <weed by the council, said Mr. Read, that the general question of the Compensation for Accidents Act should be referred to the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Council Federation. The committee would go into the whole matter, and evidence would probably be placed before the Commission when it commenced its sittings.