SEAMEN ON TRANSPORTS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11478, 5 March 1918, Page 5

SEAMEN ON TRANSPORTS.

NEW WAR RISK SCHEME. {Per Press AssocletioH.) Wellington, March, 4. After a lengthy negotiation, the Hon. Mr Wilford, Minister of Marine, announces that ho is L ablo to make public details of a scheme under which all seamen who run war risks on bur transports and other vessels engaged in war work will he covered against losses due to enemy agency, and their dependents safeguarded in the case of their death or disablement. As an indicator of how the scheme will work, Mr Wilford says: “I can take as an example, the case of a seaman earning £lB per month. In the event of his death his wife will receive until her death or until she re-marries £SO per- annum, and oue-tweuty-fourth of his pay in respect of each child. There is also compensation tor the loss of effects, and I have information of an instance in which an officer of a New Zealand vessel which was lost loff the Lizard, through enemy action, received as compensation under the scheme £SO for the loss of effects. Tins will show that most of the details have been gone into thoroughly under the British scheme.” Mr Wilford adds that he has undertaken that if any dependents of those who were lost in the Apirima put in claims in New Zealand he will forward them to the proper authorities in England in order that compensation may he paid under the scheme as outlined.