MINERS' RELIEF FUNDS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 900, 20 August 1910, Page 10

MINERS' RELIEF FUNDS.

Sir,— Referring to the article in your issue of the 16th instant.'under the heading ■ "Miners' Relief Funds." ' The article in question gives a totally incorrect idea regarding these funde. In cases of personal injury an employee in a coal-mirio is entitled to, and receives; the same rate of compensation us an injured worker in any other industry. A word of explanation is necessary as to the coal-miners' relief funds. These funds are established under the CoalMines' Act, which provides that every 'bituminous coal-mine-owner shall pay to the credit of the fund a sum equivalent to id. per ton/oh all coal.sold from that mine. No contributions to the funds are received from any other source, so it will be SE-on that the fund is provided solely by the coal-mine owners. When anemployee in a coal-mine is injured lie receives tho full amount of compensation provided by tha WorkersCompensation Act. The amount payable is ascertained as laid down in that Act, namely, one r half of the average weekly wa"fs, and the amount: :s made up and paid partly by contribution from the coal-miners' relief fund and partly by direct contribution from tho mineownor. An example will perhaps make this clear. ■

A worker whoso averatfo wages wore £1 weekly would be entitled under tho Workers'* Compensation Act, in cases of injury, to compensation at tho raus' of. £.1 per week. If he were an employee in a coal-mine he would receive that amount per week, made up by a contribution of 12s. 6d.. per week .from tho miners' relief fund, and 2is. Gd. per week from the coal-mine owner. 1 cannot seo that any injustice is committed by this procedure. The amendment now proposed certainly will inflict an injustice—on the coal-mine-owner-in that lie would be compelled to pay 12s. Cd. more per week for compensation than is the case m auy other industry. And be it note:! that the coal-mining industry is already penalised in having to deposit part compensation in advance in anticipation of possible uccidenta, which deposit is required in no'other industry. This is a very fair sample of the harsh manner in which important, industries are being hampered by the Government, resulting in people and capital being driven away from the country.— lam,etC - ' MINE OWNER.