INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.

Northern Advocate, 20 October 1920, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.

THE COMPENSATION LAW

INTERESTING POINTS RAISED,

(Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, This Day

The Workers Compensation Amciiidment Bill, which incieascs the maximum compensation from £500 to £750, and makes other amendments, was put through committee and passed by t!ie House last,night. The debate had several points of interest.

Mr T. M. Wilford, Leader of the Opposition, and other members protested against an injured worker being allowed only half wages during his period of incapacity. This meant that an average worker with his family had something like 12 a week to liro on when he was suffering from the results of an industrial accident. Mr Wilford suggested that two-thirds of the normal wage should be allowed, and an amendment to t!r•.•» effect was moved by Mr H. Poland (Ohincmuii) and rejected.

The present law allows a worker £1 for medical expenses. The Bill as introduced proposed to increase this to a maximum of £20. The Labour Bills Committee had cut oufc £20 and substituted an extra 5 per cent, of wages in addition to tthe 50 per cent, of wages allo-wed the injured worker. Members protested that this meant only 4s a week for medical expenses in the case of a £4 a week man.

The House retained the clause us amended by the committee.

Another point discussed at some length was industrial insurance, several members contending that/this ought to be made a SSfcate monopoly. Some hundreds of thousands of pounds are paid each year by New Zealand employers for' the insurance of workers, and not more than half the money reaches injured workers. The other half covers the expenses and profits of the insurance companies. Members suggested that if accident insurance wore made a State monopoly as has ■been done in some other countries, workers could get greatly increased benefit without any extra charge upon industry.

The Minister, of Labour indicated, in reply, that the Bill was to be regarded as an instalment of reform. He admitted that Labour legislation was neglected during the war period. He hoped to bring forward a Factories Bill and a Shops and Offices Bill before the session ended.- He did not think it was in the interest of workers to overload the compensation system, which must have limits order that insurances might be arranged. No company would accept an unlimited, risk.