ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26589, 11 October 1947, Page 8

ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS

OPPOSED TO MONOPOLIES P.A. WELLINGTON, Oct. 10., “Prior to the bringing down of tfie Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill, we registered with the Minister of Labour strong disapproval of any proposal to incorporate- provision for a State monopoly of workers’ compen-sation-business.” said Mr Haskell Anderson, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce,. to-day. “We explained that the reasons for our objections were: First, because it would introduce a monopoly, and we are opposed to monopolies, whether State or private; and, secondly, the adverse effect on our members throughout New Zealand.” said Mr Anderson. “ It is the employer who is responsible for the payment of premiums for workers’ compensation insurance, and therefore he should be free to choose where he will obtain his workers’ compensation cover, and he should continue to have the right to effect such insurance with whom he thinks fit. Obviously, under a State monopoly, he' will not have that choice.

“Even though we have not yet had the opportunity of studying the Bill in detail, our protest against this monopoly still stands. It is uncalled for interference wtih private enterprise, and it must cause people furiously to think of what other classes of business are likely to be taken over by the Government in the development of the Socialistic State.” Mr Anderson concluded.