Southland Sawmill Workers

Maoriland Worker, Volume 12, Issue 295, 25 October 1922, Page 2

Southland Sawmill Workers

QUAKTEBLT WE 13TING.

" A 'Targe" number "of members of thia Union, attended the quarterly meeting of this Union early in the raontli, over which, the president, Mr, T. Hal pin, presided. .

KILLED AND INJURED.

The Secretary stated that a member of the union, Mr.'George Dryden, "had lost his life through an accident at Ruahine sawmill. —A motion c»J condolence with the relatives was placed on record.

He also reported that several members from the Catlins River district had met"with accidents and asked for information re what compensation they were entitled to under the Work-

ers' Compensation Act for the loss or.-patr.of a limb. The secretary was instructed to supply the information required.

The Secretary stated further that unfortunately quito a number of serious accidents had happened during the month. Three members had their lingers taken off., and one member bad his leg taken, off, while one mem-

;>er had lost his lite. _ There were also iiuiie a nunrner or minor accidents.

ABOUT COMPENSATION FOR ACCI-

JJiiINTS

Several members wrote inquiring on what basis the 55 per cent, was paid out to a worker when he met with an accident.' Tne Secretary (T. O'Byrnc) staled that every case had to be taken on its , 'merits -but some companies paid compensation on the actual wages received by. a worker, which was not correct in accordance with the Compensation Act. The Act stated that "workers must receive compensation on the average weekly earnings, but in calculating such average no account shall be taken of any period during such time . tiio worker has been absent from work." This meant that where a worker was paid so much per day or per week that broken time would not be taken into consideration, but you simply took one day's wages and multiplied it by'6'or 5a whichever. was a noimal weeks-work/Mr. Justice Sim, lato President of the- Arbitration Court, laid It down that the proper method of assessing compensation v/as to multiply wages for a day by the number of days in a normal week $m to divide It by two. If under tU9 amended act they multiplied by 55 and divided by 100 they would then find what they were entitled to. The Secretary stated that broken time by reason of the mill not working, or thrSus'h illness could not be taken into account and a worker must be paid compensation practically on full time basis.—The Secretary was instructed to_ inform members accordingly.

BOSSES COMMITTING BREACHES.

A communication; was received from the Secretary of, the N.Z.T/W. Federation enclosing. Communications from Mr. Firlcett, Engineer in Chief of tlie

Public Works Department re administration of the Tramways Act and

also from Mr. Rowley, Secretary o! the Department of-Labour, in referonce to com plaints made by tne Federation, re stricter administration ol accommodation Act, and asked to bs

furnished with names of those sawmillers vmo were not complying v.'itli the Act. The communication was received and the Secretary was instructed to supply the information re«_im' cd. The Inspector of Factories Vr-rot stating that he was making full in vestlgations into complaints and tha he was serving notices on the sawmil owners who were not complying «'*-' the Accommodation Act. SECRETARY ON THE JOB. The Secretary staled that he lx\ visited Pourakino rail's, Coiac, Tuata*, pere, Clifdeii, O taut an, Spar BusH Hedgehope, and 17 mills in the Cafe ims District and 28 new members Jul been enrolled and £75 collected I s members' 'subscriptions, making * total or £520 for the year. The SB? milling trade appeared to be in a fairly flourishing condition and practical* \y the whole of the members v<<s fully' employed.