DOUBLE INSURANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16564, 30 May 1914, Page 14

DOUBLE INSURANCE.

FARMERS OBJECT TO IT.

DEPUTATION FOR MINISTER OF

JUSTICE.

When an occupier of land is under a mortgage he has to take out a mortgagee's indemnity insurance to protect his mortgage in case of accident, and in addition, when men are employed, insurance has to be taken out under tho Workers* Compensation Act. These insurances wero objected to yesterday by tho Farmers' Union in a brief discussion. Mr I/. T. Lill (Ashburton) moved: "That where an employer has insured his employees in any reputable accident oflice in the joint names of mortgagor and mortgagcee. sub-sections 4 and 5, section 41 ot 'The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, 1905,' should not apply." He remarked that there had been no instances where the insurance had beeen collected by farmers, and it was merely designed to put money into the coffers of tho insurance companios. He had refused to pay an indemnity insurance in one caso, and he was going to continue to do so. At least tho conference should force the Government to exempt pastoral industries from the Act. Mr C. 11. Ensor seconded the motion and stated that £50.000 had been paid in premiums, but nothing had ever been collected. In effect the workers on the farms 'were insured twice over.' The best course to adopt would bo to place the matter before the Minister of Justice and then out it before tho Dominion Conference. It was possible where a contracting chaff-cutter was under a mortgage that the workers would be insured four times.

Mr G. W. Leadley stated that the Prime Minister bad'promised to deal with the question last session, but the rush of business had prevented him doing anything. Jbo remit was adopted and a deputation was anoointed to wait on the Hon A. L. Herdman the following morning.