ACCIDENTS TO WORKERS

Southland Times, Issue 19658, 7 October 1922, Page 2

ACCIDENTS TO WORKERS

THE COMPENSATION BILK AMENDMENTS BY COMMITTEE. (Special to the Times). WELLINGTON, October 5. Eafly in the session the Government introduced a consolidating Workers’ Compensation Bill. This measure has. come back from the Labour Bills Committee with some amendments. The weekly payment to a worker during a period of total incapacity is increased from 55 to 58 per cent, of the worker’s average weekly earnings at the time of the accident. A corresponding increase is made in the weekly rate of payment during partial incapacity. | A new clause provides that in the computation of what is due by an employer I for medical or funeral expenses no account shall be taken of moneys payable by a friendly society or other organisation in respect of such expenses. The limit upon the amount recoverable from an employer in respect of an injury caused to a worker by the negligence of a fellow worker has been increased by the Committee from £750 to £lOOO. The Committee has struck out the words limiting payment in the case of a worker injured in domestic service to those who have been engaged for at least seven days. When the aiuendmended Bill was placed before the House several labour members complained that enough had not been done m the way of improving the compensation law. The Minister of Labour (Mr Anderson) said the amount of compensation payable could not be increased to the extent that he would like to see it increased because times were bad and industries could not carry extra burdens. He had gone as far as he could under present conditions. ’The insurance companies were not ruling the Government. The Government Insurance Department on the other hand had a marked influence in keeping down the cost of insurance. The Insurance Commissioner had told the Committee that for another 5 per cent common employment could be covered altogether. Anyone who wished the cover could get it at that price. The Minister added that he would like to be able to provide full pay for the injured worker, but- there were difficulties. Parliament had to frame its legislation for the small minority who were not honest, and full pay during incapacity undoubtedly would encourage malingering.