NEED FOR RELIEF

Southland Times, Issue 22157, 27 October 1933, Page 8

NEED FOR RELIEF

INSURANCE RISKS EARTHQUAKE LIABILITY EMPLOYERS’ RESPONSIBILITY (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, October 26. “It amounts to this, that should, for example, an eruption occur during working hours overwhelming Auckland, as Vesuvius overwhelmed Pompeii or Tarawera Wairoa village, every employer, or his estate if he himself were killed, would be liable, under the Workers’ Compensation Act, to pay compensation to his employees or their representatives as for death or injury by accident arising out of the employment in which each was working,” said Sir George Elliott, chairman of directors, at the annual meeting of the South British Insurance Company to-day. He discussed at length the Privy Council’s decision in the Hawkes Bay earthquake cases, describing it as “the most momentous event of the year in the insurance world.” The decision gravely concerned employers owing to the incalculable liability imposed upon them by what almost might be termed the esoteric meaning ascribed to the apparently simple words, “Arising out of” in the Act. Sir George said that, in consequence of the Privy Council decision, employers were carrying a liability not merely unreasonable, but unbearable and they should be relieved from it at the earliest possible moment.