SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10632, 3 July 1920, Page 8

SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS

WATEKSIDERS DEPUTATION AP- . BROACH MINISTER A’deputation from the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union, consisting ot Messrs Glover, Brindle, Lauronson. and Jacobsen, waited on the Minister for Labour Mon. W. H. Hemes) yesterday, in order to bring under his notice a number of suggested amendments to tho Workers' Compensation Act. The speakers urged that the maximum weekly payment of £2 10a allowed by the Act be abolished, and that workers should be paid compensation to tho extent of 50 per cent, of the wage tor the particular class of work they are engaged in. It was also claimed that the m_en should receive compensation from the date of incapacitation, and should have free medical attendance. It was pointed out that the Act provided that no compensation would be awarded if a worker was less than seven days absent from work on account of the accident; and that if a man was of! duty for less than fourteen davs he would not receive pay for the first seven. The deputation dealt With the percentage by way of compensation, and urged the necessity of increasing tho maximum of .£SOO for loss of life to a minimum of JCIOOO, free of all medical, surgical and legal expenses, owing to the increased cost of commodities. The dangerous practice of “bracketing" cool gears vns also stressed; sometimes as many ns four companies were involved, none taking any responsibility for accident under common law. Under tho Act tho man who engaged and paid the labour was responsible, but only to tho extent of vESOO. Tho deputation also urged the abolition of the fellow-servant under common law, and tho substitution of State insurance for private insurance. The Minister pave the deputation n sympathies hearing, and asked them to give evidence before tho Labour Bills Committee at an early date.