Sloth=like Progress

Maoriland Worker, Volume 12, Issue 294, 18 October 1922, Page 4

Sloth=like Progress

At the rate at wliieli our Compensation for Accidents law is in tlie right direction our babes will be patriarchs beford satisfactory legislation is on the Statute Book. The Bill now before Parliament is an exemplification of this truth —between it and the existing law there is the least conceivable difference, and nearly every attempt to give it a slightly more humane complexion meets with the Ministerial scowl. In this sort of Bill prime consideration is apparently given to the interests of insurance companies and employers, while-the injured workmen just squeeze in as an afterthought. This must be reversed. Instead of groans and lamentations when insurance companies are asked to disgorge an additional 2 or 3 per cent., our concern, first and last, must be for the unfortunate who has suffered the accident. "What do we want then? At least full wages from the date pi injury, with free medical and nursing attention, and improvement of every aspect of the law in this degree. There can be no reasonable objection to this, for it must be obvious that when a man is hurt he and his dependants require as much as when he is at work—if they get less they suffer a cruel anxiety. The only objection is from the companies and employers. By dealing drastically with the former we could probably mollify the latter. THE STATE MUST MONOPOLISE ACCIDENT INSURANCE. It could then devote the enormous excess of premiums over payments (now used to provide dividends to profiteers) to the welfare of the men stricken on the field of industry, and that with no extra charge upon tire employers. Under private enterprise in insurance accident and death, are opportunities for pro- | owftesd and- administered;- it would be an agency; for care

I The Wellington Presbyterian. Assembly turned down the anti-war resolution by Dr. Gibb at its last meating and rejected also a milder amendi'ment. The majority (12 to 7) then ! passed no motion, and doubtless in the spirit of accommodation left the position where i£ epuld be exploited Iby the jingoes anrl militarists. Great of the Spirit that received 'outward expression in the beatitudes! On the question 01 war they preferred the attitude of the Laodiceans, • they blew neither hot nor cold, and ! lor their supineriess they deserve to t?e 'spewed out of tire people's moutli. ! Fancy so-called followers of the Prince of Peace talking as if He should be clad in khaki and taugfet bayonet exercises for the glory of ;God! Like Bernard Shaw, we ajiologfse t o the universe for living itt It