PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 273, 16 October 1936, Page 9

PARLIAMENT

COMPENSATION FOR WORKERS

DEBATE ON BORSTAL FARE

A lively discussion took place in the House of Representatives, yesterday, on the dietary provided for inmates of the Borstal institutions. The subject arose out of a report on a petition, recommendations being made for an improvement m the fare provided. Improved compensation fo in an amendment to the Work was introduced. The Bill inc

:* injured workers is aimed at jrs Compensation Act, winch rules share farmers.

BORSTAL INMATES

less than £2 per week and not -more than £4 10s. The basis of computation of weekly compensation to which a worker would lie entitled had been altered. At present it wns assessed upon the average weekly earnings for the previous twelve months. It was now intended that the weekly earnings at the time of. the accident would lie deemed to he the weekly earnings. Although the minimum payment was fixed at £2 compensation, it provided that payment to minors and apprentices would not' exceed the full amount of their wages. In the case of bankruptcy the claim for compensation would rank with wages, which came first.

IMPROVED DIET

RECOMMENDED BY COMMITTEE,

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Oct. 15.

When the House of Representatives met this afternoon, the M to Z Public Petitions Committee submitted a special reiwrt, stating it had considered certain petitions relating to Borstal institutions and desired, after hearing evidence and visiting the Wellington Borstal, to submit the following suggestions for the consideration of the (Government:

The Bill was read the first time. SCOPE OF THE BILL.

(1) That a substantial improvement in the diet of inmates of all Borstal institutions should be made, particularly by providing fresh butter and fresh vegetables; (2) tluat local bodies, in collaboration with ministers’ associations, should be consulted when appointments to the visiting committees are made; (3) that a reclassification should take place with a view to the segregation of different types of inmates, so that they should be under the control of the appropriate department. Rev. C. Carr, chairman of the committee, said it was not right that, though fresh vegetables were grown by tlie boys and butter was produced in the institution, the boys got none of it. Hon. H. G. R. Mason, Minister of Justice, said lie took an interest in the diet of those in such institutions and, though the diet had its shortcomings, it did not call for any immense outpouring of emotion. They received at least two varieties of fresh vegetables every day and he honestly believed the inmates were better treated, as far as vegetables were concerned, than members of Parliament were treated in Bellamy’s. One© a person entered prison that was his only punishment. Nothing was added to it, and there was no spirit of revenge. The loss of liberty was a severe punishment, but the prisoners were well looked after. There was no suggestion of taking vengeance on prisoners or anything like that. Hon. It. Semple: You will have us breaking out of Parliament and breaking into gaol. Mr Mason said the Borstal system was developing and, doubtless, there would be further improvements. As far as he could see, except the omission of butter, and there was room for improvement there, the inmates were well fed.

Provision for increased compensation to injured workers and the extension of compensation benefits in other directions are made in the Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill. The minimum amount of compensation payable on the death of a worker covered" bv legislation is to be increased from £3OO to £SOO. It is provided that if a worker leaves any total dependants compensation will be computed at 208 times his weekly earnings, or £SOO whichever is the greater, with a maximum of £IOOO. In cases where workers are paid on a basis of the amount of work done weekly, the earnings are to l>e calculated as earnings for a full working week at the time of the accident. Where the earnings cannot be ascertained in this way they are to he calculated at the ruling rate payable for the same class of work in the same district, or at the basic rate of wages to lie fixed hv the Arbitration Court for adult workers under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act passed earlier this year. SHARE FARMERS INCLUDED.

Share farmers and persons plying for hire with vehicles used under contract of bailment with an owner other than a hire purchase agreement are to be brought within the scope of the legislation and will he eligible for compensation. The person with whom the share farmer has entered into his agreement, of the person owning the vehicle which is being plied for hire, is to be regarded in each case as the employer. Compensation payable to all these workers is to be fixed on the basis of the proposed basic wage. Special provisions are to apply to casual workers and domestic servants. At present the Act applies only to the employment of a worker in and lor tlie purpose of any business or trade carried on bv an employer, or in specified operations, whether or not these occupations are carried on for the purposes of the employer's trade or business. These specified occupations are generally of a hazardous nature, but provision is also made for tlm inclusion of domestic service in which the emplovment or engagement is for a period of not less than three days. The Bill proposes to extend compensation to workers in any other occupation if within a period of twelve months nreceding the accident tlie worker has been continually engaged or employed for not less than three consecutive days by the employer concerned. This provision will include domestic servants.

Mr Carr: They get carrots four times a month. Mr Mason: Well, they get something else on other days. The Minister added that, if they did not get one vegetable, they got another. He was anxious to do liis best for prisoners or anyone else in his care, and the first thing' he was going to do was to learn the actualities of the situation and, form his own judgment regarding such matters. Mr A. S. Richards: Will the Minister give us nil assurance that they will get blitter? Mr Mason: They will get butter, but there is much more to be concerned about than butter. whole salvation is not only in butter. Tluat is only one item. Vegetables are more important. The warders receive no medals for allowing prisoners to get into bad health.

Weekly compensation payments are not to be discounted except in cases where a worker has returned to work, or his doctor has certified that he is wholly recovered or that his incapacity is not due in whole or in part to accident. However, if a doctor certifies after examining the worker that he is fit for work he may, or if required l>v the employer must, submit himself for examination to a committee of three doctors. The committee is to give a written certificate as to the worker s fitness, and this certificate is to be regarded as conclusive. These committees will be appointed by the Governor-General and regulations may he made by Order-in-Coun-cil prescribing the conditions of their employment and their remuneration. Regulations can be made outlining the procedure for the handling and disposal of compensation moneys payable to dependants out of New Zealand and compensation moneys received in New Zealand from other countries.

Hon. P. Fraser 6aid that if anything could bo done to improve the institutions it would be done, but there would be no maudlin sentimentality about it. , After 6ome further discussion, Mr Cnrr replied. He outlined tlie vegetable diet given in a Borstal institution and said the boys had to eat dry bread. The only dripping availablo was used for cooking. The report was tabled and referred to the Government for favourable consideration.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION

£2 WEEKLY MINIMUM

IMPORTANT CHANGES,

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Oct. 15,

In the House of Representatives, tonight, the Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill was introduced. Hon. H. T. Armstrong, Minister of Labour, explained that the Bill would come into operation on January 1, and would apply only to accidents occurring on and after that date. It would make provision to bring within the provisions of the Workers Compensation Act sharemilkers or share farmers. Compensation for death caused by accident would be increased from £3OO to £SOO, and the minimum weekly compensation would not be

HIGHWAYS BILL. PASSED HOUSE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 15. During the afternoon the House went into Committee to consider the Main Highways Amendment Bill, which was put through without amendment, read a third time and passed.