"INSURE YOUR SERVANT."

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12664, 18 January 1912, Page 2

"INSURE YOUR SERVANT."

THE NEW LAW DESCRIBED. Thn. insurance companies are preparing to do extra business .after the 'end of March, when the new provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act come into force, extending its full benefits to all manual workers* whatever their -wages. The Acit includes domestics, who- are subject to a special .claxise,. so that the intention of the Legislature shall be quite clear. Up till now, the ordinary domestic has not been able to claim, compensation, except under rare circumstances, and there lias been no demand for their insurance " against accident, but the changed law throws an , important responsibility on the householder, and the insurance companies are, as usual, prepared to take up the burden — .for a. consideration. What their; charge will finally be, is not yet decided, 'but inquiries made by^a New Zealand. Times representative show that, they will probably start with a minimum policy of ten shillings, which will cover up to £100 of wages,. If it is found that Mary Ann developes an expensive tendency to accidents the rates will be raised, but that is 'the position at present. With moat house-, holders £his prospect is not so perplexing as the task of getting a servant to insure. The : scarcity l is ; general; affects ing every 1 class' of domestic help, and it is not likely that the. additional protection afforded \by law will do anytfing to attract girls to. the work, seeing that they are already covered if engaged m factories. . '. ' Domestics employed for a. period less than a week, such as charwomen, who come once a week, are not included m the scope of the Act. . An, injury, to be the subject of compensation, must be one causing cessation 'from 'work for one week, the legislators having provided againstta. run' on the ittsuraiicß 'funds because of -such trifles as cut fingers.! The weekly 'compensation payable is limited to £2 10a, and the employer is liable for £1, medical expenses. - The defence' of serious and wilful misis now' of no avail m a compensation claim if the injury result^ m death or permanent "disablement. • t No agreement between- an >• employer' and* a worker'for settlement of any claim under the Act. is Tvalid. unless sttpetyised by »; magistrate or ait insnectoar of factories!, ; THE LAW OF "DEPENDANTS. THc new general phase of the ' Compensation iAct is lmjiortant. In case of the death or permanerit 'disablement of a. worker, (the law formerly provided that his'- partial ! dependants could 1 obtain three times the amount* the worker' had paid them m one .year,' this being- "a lump sum as compensation. . Thus, if a son had sent his mother £13 per annmri.and she ranked as a partial dependant, her compensation m. a' lump sum would be £39:' But under the new Act it is to be "reasonable m proportion to the injury to his depend'ante."