WORKERS' ACCIDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18455, 19 July 1923, Page 10

WORKERS' ACCIDENTS.

WIDENING THE LIMITS.

LABOUR MEMBER'S PROPOSAL COMPULSORY INSURANCE. [by telegraph.— SPEClAL reporter.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Workers' Compensation Act Amendment Bill (Mr. E. J. Howard) was the sole topic of discussion in. the House of Representatives this evening. The Bill proposed : (a) That the maximum compensation payable in case of total ' disablement or death where deceased leaves a total dependent be raised from £750 to £1000; (b) that the weekly ,- payment during a worker's incapacity be raised from 58 to 75 per cent.; (c) that the limit. of six vears placed upon the incapacity payments bo removed (d) that the limitation of £1 placed , upon the sum allowed for medical expenses be removed; (e) that all employers be compelled to . insure their employees againat accident; (f) that workers bo allowed to sue under common employment, in respect of accident caused by the negligence of a fellow-*?orker, for an unlimited amount, instead of for a maximum of £1000 only. ;. . Mr. Howard explained the provisions of his Bill at considerable length. He said that beyond doubt Reform members had intended last year to raise the maximum compensation to £1000, but by a misunderstanding this had not been done. The Labour Party would not be satisfied with 75 'per cent, of wages during incapacity or with' anything less, ultimately, than full wages, in addition to full medical expenses. He quoted the case of a man who received compensation for an accident, but whose doctor received, practically the whole of it.. This was not right. '.' ." " Support From Liberals. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr, Wilford, said he proposed to vote for the second reading of the Bill. Its provisions were far-reaching, so far as the employers and the insurance companies" were concerned, but it was' mainly a question of insurance.

• The Minister for labour, the Hon. G. J. Anderson, said the amending Act of last year had . made New Zealand legislation on the subject the best in existence. Ho had supposed that the Labour members would be satisfied, but they now said that nothing less than full wages during incapacity and full medical' expenses would be satisfactory. Everyone would like to see this achievement, but there were practical difficulties in ' the way. The Labour members appeared to have forgotten that the proportion of wages to be paid during incapacity had been raised to 58 per cent, in order to provide for medical expenses, which latter were now claimed in full. It had been found in other countries that where a fixed sum was allowed the medical bill nearly always came to about that sum. He would have liked to have made the percentage 60, but it was found that insurance premiums would become prohibitively high. Increasing, the Maximum. Mr. Anderson objected to the removal of the £1000 limitation on claims under common employment. because, if it were removed, there would be no compensation, cases at all. The proposal to increara the. maximum ordinary compensation to £1000 represented a great advance on tho prosent clause. He recognised that the member for Ohristchurch South had made a life study of workers* compensation. He was entitled to have his Bill read a second time, but before it went any further the Labour Bills Committee should take evidence from all interested upon tho proposals, especally that for raising the maximum. .. ■'.-'■

The Minister said he would not oppose the clause providing for compulsory insurance of workers. It was desirable that an employee should be protected > against an employer who was a man of straw. He suggested . that it would be. wise to wait before attempting a further step forward from the one taken last year. He would be surprised if any part of the Bill became law in the present Parliament/. ' ' .

The . Bill was read a second" time ana referred' to the Labour Bills Committee.