LABOUR AFFAIRS.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 28 June 1926, Page 1

LABOUR AFFAIRS.

WORKER’S COMPENSATION ACT (Per Press Association —Copyright). SYDNEY, June 29. The position under the new Workmen’s Compensation Act, which operates compulsorily from July’ 1, has been further complicated by the Premier’s announcement, after a hurried consultation with the experts, that the State Government Insurance Office will charge 2(k, per cent, sickness rate as against 4Os per cent, adopted by the outside underwriters. Whether the Government, Office intends to reduce other charges is not stated, but it is announced that the policy Is to reduce rates to the fullest extent consistent with safety. The leader of the Opposition points out that the Government, under the present law, has no power to undertake general insurance, and that such an action will be purely illegal, and the Government would be in a position to repudiate any policy if it ehose to do so. He declared that the confusion and alarm created by the Government's action throughout the country is appalling. Everywhere the matter is being discussed. The primary producers are generally reduced to a position of despair by this and the other Government burdens. • The North Coast Sawmiilers’ Asso-> ciation have decided, as the result of the new Act, that all agreements with the timber suppliers and employees will be terminated on Wednesday, and hundreds of timber getters and mill employees will be rendered idle. The Government Insurance Office is advertising for business under the Workers Compensation Act.' It will chargb rates on the basis of■those declared by the underwriters.