WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16798, 23 July 1920, Page 5

WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

MORE LIBERAL PROVISION. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 22. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr. Howard moved tho second reading of tho Workers’ Compensation Bill. Ho stated tho Bill proposed, in view of the increased cost of living, to raise tho compensation payable for death or total disablement from £SOO to £750. It was proposed that compensation should begin from tho day of the accident. Section four dealt with load poisoning, leaving tho time! in which tho disease may bo contracted indefinite, because it could not be defined. Lead poisoning was not strictly an accident, and ought not to bo included in this Bill. Them ought to be sped d legislation dealing with occupational diseases. It was proposed to increase medical assistance Horn £1 to a sum up to £25, and tho weekly payment was raised from £2 to to £3 per*week. Clause 6 abolished a “pernicious system” known as common employment. The discussion was continued m tho evening, when Mr. Lysnar supported the Bill, as the requests made in the mcasuio wore reasonable. Only by meeting the wrongs of the workers could wo secure industrial peace. Mr. Poland complimented Mr. Howard on his courage in introducing the Bill, and in ills modesty in framing it, for its demands foil far short of what was due, as between master and man. in case of accident. The one ossentn.il change to enable the employer to pay more compensation to an injured employee was State monopoly of tho accident insurance business.

Messrs. Smith (Waimarino), Jennings; Masters, Bartram, Parry, Hudson, M'Leod, Edie, Atmoro and Veitch also supported tho main principles of tho Bill, which was read a second time, and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. ’