WORKERS' COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 11696, 30 September 1902, Page 3

WORKERS' COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS.

This measure was reached at 12.45 a-m. The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones moved the committal of the Bill. He said there appeared to be a general feeling among'farmers that agricultural laborers came under the operations of the Act, aDd as a result agricultural laborers were generally insured. This Act specifically included agricultural laborers, and so set at rest all doubts on tlte point. With regard to the. other provisions of the Bill, he explained that if a man met with an accident and was not incapacitated for more than fourteen days be did not come under the Act. but if his incapacity extended beyond fourteen days he was entitled to compensation from the date of the commencement of his incapacity After ;he Telegraph Oißce dosed the debate was continued. Almost unanimous approval was expressed of the proposal to bring agricultural laborers within the scope of the A?t, and a ir.otion was agreed to on the voics. On going iuto committee on the. Bill, Messrs M.issey, J.is. Allen, and others urg«;d that the Government should agree to an adjournment, and protested against then practice of legislation by exhaustion. —A motion to report progress was lost by 30 to 15.—Mr James Allen then moved that the Chairman, leave the chair, and a lenjthy discussion ensued, the

Opposition continuing the protest against the late sitting. Eventually, at 5.10 a.m. Mr Allen withdrew his motion, on the understanding that. the first three clauses of the Bill should be passed, and a new clause be brought down by the Minister at next sitting. This arrangement was carried out, and the first three clauses of the Bill were agreed to unaltered, and on the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones's motion progress was reported.—The House rose at 5.25 a.m. JOTTINGS. The local Bills which had been passed by the House last week were put through their final stages in the Legislative Council yesterday. The amendments made by the Council in the Bank Holidays and Inspection of Machinery Bills have been asreed to by the other branch of the Legislature. "I think the Ministry are departing from their senses, or their senses are departing from them."—Mr Tanner, a Government supporter, on what he characterised as an insidious attempt to smuggle into tho Stamp Act an amendment by Governor's Message' under which revenue could be made good by the remission of £2,500 under the mortgage tax to the wealthy classes. The Hou» last evening passed the Victoria Coll ige Site and Poisons Importation and Carriage Amendment Bills through all their stages. The Paukawa Native Reserves Bill was introduced by Governor's Message last night merely that it might bo circulated during the recess. Both Chambers have passed resolutions instructing the Solicitor-General to compile, under the Statutes Compilation Act, p&fsed this session, the Education Act, 1877, Licensing Act, 1881, and Municipal Corporations Act, 1900, with their respective amendments. The newly-constituted Senate of the NewZealand University are to hold their first meeting on June 30 next.