EMPLOYERS' RISKS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 6908, 19 July 1901, Page 2

EMPLOYERS' RISKS.

A lady called at the office of a Oisborne paper and asked for some information with regard to " The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act." She stated that she intended engaging a man on the following morning to chop sonic wood, but being informed by a friend that she would render herself liable in the event of the man meeting with an accident, she decided not to engage him until she had further information on the subject. " If lam liable in the event of an accident," she said, " then I will not engage him." Enquiry showed that tlit' fourth section of the Act sets forth the employments to which the Act applies and includes any hazardous work carried on by or on behalf of the employer whether it be part of his trade or not. The sixth section further states: " If any employment to which this Act applies personal injury by accident arising out of and in the course of the employment is caused to a worker, his employer shall be liable to pay compensation in accordance with the second schedule to this Act." As we read the Act, wc are afraid that the lady will be ! : ablc, in the event of (he man meeting with an accident, to pay him compensation, although he might only be employed to chop wood. She can guard herself by insuring the workman for a smal premium, or what is perhaps better, he might insure himself. It is difficult to judge from the Act as to how far one's liability extends.