H.—43.

1900. NEW ZEALAND.

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS IN GREAT BRITAIN (CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE AGENT-GENERAL AND THE HOME OFFICE CONCERNING TELEGRAPHIC STATEMENT RELATING TO).

Laid upon the Table of both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave.

Mr. W. Kennaway to the Et. Hon. the Pbemiee. Sib, — Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W. Eeferring to my letter, No. 1800, of the 11th instant, concerning the telegraphic statement published in the Neio Zealand Times, relating to industrial accidents in this country, I beg herewith to transmit copy of correspondence, by which it will be seen that the Home Office, while admitting that there has been considerable increase in the number of such accidents since the Workmen's Compensation Act came into operation, express an opinion that no part of the increase can in any way be attributed to the working of that Act. I have, &c, Walteb Kennaway (For the Agent-General of New Zealand). The Et. Hon. the Premier, Wellington.

Mr. W. Kennaway to the Undeb-Secbetaey of State. Sib,— 13, Victoria Street, S.W., Bth August, 1899. A statement has been published in New Zealand to the effect that after twelve months' working of the Workmen's Compensation Act there has been an increase in the records of workmen killed of 14 per cent., and of those injured 38 per cent., and in reference thereto the Agent-General has been instructed by his Government to ascertain whether that statement can be regarded as reliable. The Agent-General would therefore be much obliged if you could favour him with such information as will enable him to reply to his Government's inquiry. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Home Office, S.W. Walteb Kennaway.

Mr. K. B. Digby to the Agent-Geneeal. Sib,— Whitehall, 14th August, 1899. I am directed by the Secretary of State, in reply to Mr. Kennaway's letter of the Bth instant, to say that, though the figures referred to in that letter are not quite accurate, it is the fact that a comparison of the returns of accidents for the twelve months preceding and the twelve months following the date when the Workmen's Compensation Act came into force does show in some industries a considerable increase in the number of workmen reported as killed or injured, but that there is no reason to think that this increase is in any way due to the operation of the Act. Taking the twelve months from July, 1897, to June, 1898, and comparing them with the twelve months from July, 1898, to June, 1899, the following increases of fatal accidents are found in the different industries: In railways, from 505 to 522, or 3 per cent.; in mines, from 850 to 920, or 8 per cent.; in quarries, from 101 to 135, or 33 per cent.; in factories, from 504 to 660, or 31 per cent, (for buildings and for engineering works there are no complete returns). But with regard to these figures it is to be observed—First, that in railways the increase of 3 per cent, is less