RECIPROCITY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2356, 12 January 1915, Page 6

RECIPROCITY

WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT,

From statements recently made in Auckland, there would appear- to be stn impression in some quarters that the Workers' Compensation Act makes no provision for reciprocity with countries outside of New Zealand. This impression is, however, an erroneous one. The machinery for reciprocity has been in existence since 190S, for Section 53 of the Act provides for it in tho following terms: — _ "Where the Governor is eatisr fied that by the laws of any other country within the Dominions of the Crown compensation for accidents is payable to the relatives of a deceased worker, although' they are resident in New Zealand,, he may by Ord'er-in-Council ' declare that relatives resident in that' . country shall have the same, rights and remedies under this Act as if resident in New Zealand."

In connection with this, there »rt one or two points worth noting. In the first place, by Order-in-Council, under Section 53, reciprocity has already been established with Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and the United Kingdom, but the States of Now South 'Wales and Victoria had not passed the necessary legislation to enable reciprocity to be established. An Act recently passed in Victoria, and coming into operation this month; may possibly contain a satisfactory section, and in such case Cabinet no doubt, make an Order-in : Council to meet the case. Another point to be noticed is that wife and children are dependents of a special class, and are not restricted in the matter of domicile, as are other dependents,' say a grandfather. On this account, the wife ot a deceased w >rker (resident in New Zealand) could benefit though her residence be in Now South Wales, whereas the grandfather of such a worker could not if the grandfather were a dependent residing in Now South Wales.