WORKERS’ COMPENSATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 26 June 1926, Page 7

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION.

AMENDED NEW SOUTH WALES ACT. EMPLOYERS ALARMED. BI CABLE-PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received 10.50 a.m. to-day. SYDNEY, June 26. The new Workers’ Compensation Act is viewed- with alarm by sawmillers and timber operators generally. There is a probability that the majority will cease operations on Wednesday next, when the Act comes into force, thus causing serious unemployment. The most serious aspect is the liability of millers for teamsters and other bush workers who are contractors, and therefore beyond the millers' supervision or control. One • sawmiller in the Bellingen district, who employs 22 men and makes approximately £6OO front the industry,' has decided to close down, as he finds that after paying the new insurance premiums, amounting to over £SOO, that lie will have practically no profits at all. Other millers will he similarly affected.

The Retailers’ and Traders’ Associa. tion has registered its own insurance company, with a capital of £IOO,OOO. The manager of the company formed by the Chamber of Manufacturers states that his company has resolved to reduce the disease rate from 40s per cent., decided upon by the Underwriters’ Association, to 30,5, and will review the position at the end of six months with a view to seeing if a further reduction of rates be possible.