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Greymouth Evening Star, 11 July 1908, Page 2

WORKERS COMPENSATION. The Workers Oomjious.-ition Rill introduced by the Minister of Labour yesterday is I lie bill of last year but also extends the principle as applied tor by (ho Labor Unions. It extends the operation of the workers compensation system so as to cover all employees receiving not more than £5 per week whatever the nature of the business or trades. The maximum compensation payable on debt is increased from £4OO to £SOO and (he total compensation payable for partial or total incapacitation is made to vary with (lie wages earned, the maximum being raised from £3OO to £SOO. Certain specific injuries have fixed sums of compensation allotted to them. The compensation is extended to certain industries and the Act is extended to cover all seamen employed on New Zealand ships. Several other important amendments are made in the existing law. The Employers Liability Act is repealed on the ground that the bill will make it. superfluous. Under (he bill a worker has two remedies. If lie can prove personal negligence on the part of his master lie can sue at common law for damages. Whether the master is negligent or not. the servant can sue for compensation under this Act, but he cannot sue his employer tor damages merely because of the negligence of a follow servant.