INJURED WORKERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17154, 2 October 1926, Page 17

INJURED WORKERS

COAIPEN SATIOX, PROVISIONS. REPLY TO' CRITICISM. (Per Press Association.) ! WELLINGTON, last night. [ Last month’s issue of the Now Zealand Industrial Bulletin contains a reference to the Workers' Compensation Amendment Act, passed during tho recent session. &lt points out that tho provisions of this legislation will materially affect- the sawiiiillers, in common with all other .employees of labor. Interviewed! on the subject yesterday, tlie Minister -of Labor, the Hou. G. J. Anderson, said that- for workers’ ■ compensation purposes timber trades were, classified under three headings, namely, (a) timber merchants, without breaking down or timber getting; (b) timber .merchants, including timber getting; (c) timber getting. He pointed 1 out that the recently-com-pleted acu.arial investigation or experience of all offices over a period of six showed- that thp claims cost, of (a) and (b) was over 100 per cent of prem-. hums received, without taking into account any working expenses whatever. Obviously, therefore, the rate 9 under these two headings would require an increase. In the case of heading (o), however, experience shows that a. reduction is warranted. The aim.of the pending general adjustment of rates, said the Minister, was to restore .equity between the different occupations on the basis of claim cost, without adding to the burden on the industry as a whole, independently of the new Act, which comes into force on January 1 next. Without such an adjustment certain occupations would bo paying for others, which would he denied the benefit in rating that their own expense warrants. While the rates in certain occupations will bo increased, others will be reduced. So far as the State Accident Office was concerned, Air. Anderson said thathe hadvbeen informed by the Hon. Air. Nos worthy that, it- was proposed to. endeavor to, bear the increased benefits, operating as from January 1 next, out the margin allowed in premiums at present for working expenses profit. Necessarily tfie margin, when the new Act operates, will bo much narrower than at any previous time in the history of accident' insurance in New Zealand.