The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JULY 17, 1901. ACCIDENT INSURANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 159, 17 July 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JULY 17, 1901. ACCIDENT INSURANCE.

Yesterday afternoon a lady called at the Times office and asked for some information with regard to “ The Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Act.” She stated

that she intended engaging a man on the following morning to chop some wood, but being informed by a friend that she would render herself liable in the event of the man meeting with an accident, she decided not to engage him until she hadfurther information on the subject. “If I am liable in the event of his meeting with an accident,” she said, “ then I will not engage him. I am a widow and in receipt of a remittance from Home. It is not too much for me to live on, and therefore I eannot afford to take any risks.” We promised to look into the matter, and if possible set the lady's fears at rest. The fourth section of the Act sets forth the employments to which the Act applies and includes any mining, quarrying, building, or other hazardous work carried

on by or on behalf of the employer whether it be part of his trade or not. The sixth section further states : “ If in any employment to which this Act applies personal injury by accident arising out of and in the course of the employment is caused to a worker, his employer shall be liable to pay compensation in accordance with the second schedule to this Act.” As we read the Act, we are afraid that the lady will i be liable, in the event of the man meeting with an accident, to pay him compensation, although ho be only employed to chop wood. Sho can guard herself by insuring the workman for a small premium, or what is perhaps better, he might insure t himself. We should certainly adi-i.se her j to come to some arrangement with him before engaging him, as it is difficult to judge from the Act as to how far one’s liability extends,

EDUCATION BOARD ELECTION” Ax improper attempt is being made from Napier to influence the election of members to the Education Board. The object apparently is to secure the election of Napier town members, which be against the interests of such a district as Poverty Bay. Under the new system of

recording votes each member of a School Committee receives a ballot paper, and can record liis vote as he pleases. It would be a wise thing if the gentlemen comprising the School Committees in this district east their votes in favor of Messrs MeLernon and Hall, who are well acquainted with the needs of the district, and would see that it was fairly treated.

The Government offices will bo closed to-day (Arbor Day).

A meeting ot the Hawke’s Day Land Board will be held in Gisborne on Saturdav next.

Mrs East, of the Gisborne Registry Office, has positions waiting for married couples, general servants, cooks, and kitchen maids.

Mr R. H. Owen, Mayor of Wellington, telegraphed yesterday afternoon to Mr Townley, the Mayor of Gisborne : “ Gisborne troopers leave per To Auau this afternoon.”

The Borough Council committee last night completed its deliberations on the water and drainage scheme in an hour, a great many different thoughts being brought to a focus within that period. To pin-headed editors, who detile their columns with peace-destroying sectarian clapper-clawing, one is sorely tempted to apply the two concluding phrases of these words of Scripture: “ A whip for a horse, ti snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.”—Dunedin Tablet.

At the beginning of a session, the House prodigally wastes weeks of its valuable time in an almost endless verbosity, and in the concluding weeks rushes through its work, without proper consideration of the measures which are submitted for consideration.—Bruce ILerald.

Will the disgraceful scandal which characterised the military arrangements at Wellington, in connection with the Duke's visit to Now Zealand, be faithfully recorded in the book which Journalist R. A. Loughnan is writing on the Maoriiand tour of the Royal pair '.’ Hardly.—Adelaide Quiz. The City Band held their usual practice last night, there being a large attendance. It is intended to give a concert in a month’s time, to consist chiefly of items contributed by members of the Band. The services of three or four vocalists arc to be secured, and the remainder of the programme will consist of instrumental numbers.

That members will tako the proposed CIO increased •‘honorarium” goes without saying. The struggling back-blocks settlers will do without their roads, but each True Patriot will make a greater and a nobler sacrifice—ho will, for the sake of “ the others,” condescend to add another £6O to his hard earned salary. He will do this in the name and for the cause of Liberalism! Shades of departed martyrs rise up and cheer. —Wanganui Chronicle. The Maori is a grand old race, civilised, and now essentially loyal to the British throne. In developing the country the Government has protected, and drawn by the magnet of kindness and goodwill, the people to whom the land was given by their Creator ; they are now happy, contented, prosperous, a support and not a menace to the Crown, and in possessing those people, New Zealand is the most envied of the States formiug the British Empire.—Sydney Newsletter.