EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY ACT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1199, 22 February 1895, Page 18

EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY ACT.

TO THE EDITOR. ' Sir, —Mr Beeves, in reply t> a deputation, has asserted that workmen may resist any demand made for insurance fees as a provision to meet the liability of employers under the above Act, any such demand being illegal. The honourable gentleman is no doubt strictly correct in his dictum, but, notwithstanding, employers here and in other places make the demand, and, as a carpenter put it the other day, '•**.. it is a case of pay or leave/' but it is not necessary for an employer to carry his point in this bold, direct way. He has only to say, "Men, Parliament in its wisdom has thought fit to impose certain liabilities on me, and in order to protect myself I regret that I shall be obliged to lower wages such an extent as will make a provision sufficient to cover my risk." Now, workmen cannot afford in these times to quarrel with their employers—result, they yield ; and as the greater number are members of one or more friendly societies, and a good many, too, having their lives insured, they are already burdened with as much as they can afford. It may be said " Drop the friendly societies; this makes the necessary provision against accidents." It certainly does, but in a veiy circumscribed way—rfor accidents, sickness or death occasioned outside the sphere of the employer there is no provision made. But the obvious unfairness of the whole thing lies in the fact that this weekly contribution that is demanded is to cover the risk of the employer for any contingency that may arise through his own fault or shortcomings or that of his nominee. No claim for compensation will lie unless the fault or lapsus can be sheeted home to the employer—and, doubtless, this Act was made under the full conviction that it was in the interests and for the benefit of the workmen of New Zealand. It may bo said "It keeps the word of promise to the ear, but breaks it to the hope."—l am, &c, E.W.H. Napier, 6th February, 1895.