THE MINING INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 427, 9 February 1909, Page 8

THE MINING INDUSTRY.

!^-proposal§.bt ; h:on3."e. guinness.'. '■■'■'■] (DrrTEtidBArHTrSPECUI, CpRRESPOKDENT.I ;i' •.■'•.• '. • - ■ '•• Reefton, Mjruary 8. : , : ;The;Hon. A.,E;. Guinnsss, in a speech in rcthe mining industry; stated that the 'battle'regarding'medical examination remained to ; be fought'in the House.of Representatives. There, was.bound to bo' opposition, and ;the question ..would arise whether Clause 10 of the'' :Workers',, Compensation Act should bo swept ;awoy,,pr Ql.ause 19, .to-which-the .employees ob;jeoted;':';He'.had devised.'» scheme of .general j worker's' jirisurancßi;:which ho held would an-M jswer'tho purpose." 'His proposal was. to found. ,a: ;nationaI v siclE and .accident fund, providing' that eaohi worker, • if'incapacitated for any. rea,'eon,' could .receive half .wages during incapacity; | "In the,, case, of '• death; either,.£soo, as. now, or'! if a board "to bo set up considered it better,! U2s. per w.eek'.to the .widow and 4s. to the chil- ! idren till , the.widow married and the children. 1, .arrived at the age of 16. Contributions to this j ■end should -be.;•■ proportionately' shared by; em- ' ■jployer and "employee, the latter being insured : ;tor all 2i, and from every ailment, , sickness, 'disease,;or accident; not, as now, for hours only. The Government, as: it would be assisted by diminished expenditure on charitable aid,' should 'assist. The post officewould be the collecting agency, and the'modical certificate would bG the sole voucher. ■Employers, instead/of:, paying in. advance, as now, to companies, would pay a percentage on the wages' paid, 'and bo empowered to deduct ithe 'workers' contribution, say r a/fourth,' from ■■". their'wages; No medical examination would be and no legal proceedings would be: • ; nece ; fisary. The Workers' Conlpprisation .Act iwould ibo' repealed,, and this: would take its ! plnce.: : - v '■■■''■''.:'■'..."■"'■''V- ; ■■ ' ; -'..'■■■ ':;'■'■ ■,\ :" Ctinsidorablo '> disoussion took place, but "it favour of some suoh eohemo,' 1