THE ARBITRATION ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13938, 21 December 1908, Page 4

THE ARBITRATION ACT.

NEW YEAR CHANGES. A COMPENSATION TABLE. The new Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act comes into operation on January 1, making extensive changes in the method of dealing with industrial difficulties, though the principle of conciliation with compulsory arbitration behind it remains as before. Upon the ability and tact of the permanent heads of the conciliation councils will copend tho efficiency of the new regime, and tho Minister for Labour (Hon. J. A.. Millar) has expressed his conviction, from signs already evident, that the new measure will be a success. Power is given to the Governor-in-Council to appoint four Conciliation Commissioners, but the Minister states that tho number will be not more than three at first. It is interesting to study the schedule setting out the compensation duo for partial incapacity, such as the loss of a limb or an eye. Each member, even to a finger, has its money value in proportion to the earnings of the injured operative. In case of death, the compensation shall be a sum equal to 156 times tho deceased workman's average weekly earnings, with a minimum of £200 and a maximum of £500. Assuming a case in which full compensation would amount to the minimum of £200, tho damages which could have been obtained if death had not resulted from the injury would be 'assessed as follows: — Loss of both eyes £200 Lobs of both hands 200 Loss of both feet 200 Loss of a hand and foot 200 Total and incurable loss of mental powers, involving inability to work 200 Total and incurable paralysis of the limbs or of mental powers ... ... . ... 200 Total loss of right arm or greater part of arm 160 Total loss of left arm or greater part of arm 150 Total loss of right hand, or of five fingers of right hand, or of lower part, of right arm 140 Total lots of same for left hand and arm... 130 Total loss of a leg .'• 150 Total loss of a foot or lower part of leg ... 120 Total loss of sight of one eve, together with serious diminution of sight of other eye... 150 Total loss of hearing 100 Total loss of sight of one eye ... ... 60 Total loss of thumb of right hand ... 60 Total loss of thumb of left hand 50 Total loss of forefinger of right hand ... 40 Total loss of forefinger of left hand . . ... 30 Total loss of part, of thumb of right hand ... 30 Total loss of little finger ... 24 Total loss of middle or ring finger 16 Total loss of a toe or of a Joint of a finger... 10 Complete deafness of one ear 20 The figures quoted above are tho minimum in each case, end in practice will generally be 'exceeded, though the proportional value of. an eye compared with a leg or a finger remains the same. Persons whose average weekly -wages exceed £5 do not come under the provisions of the Act.