Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1901. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 June 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1901. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENT.

Tbe Workers’ Compensation for Accident Act, of 1900, which came into force on the (7 th of this month, has placed a responsibility on the backs of employers many of our readers are unaware of, and one which, if ignored, must inevitably mean serious financial loss, if not ruin, to many. It is with the hope of preventing disaster overwhelming employers in the commercial, industrial, and manufacturing portions of our community that we call attention to the stringent clauses of the Act. Prior to this Act coming into operation, an employee could only obtain from his employer compensation for any accident that he might have sustained while working for said employer, on his proving that such accident was due to defect in the state or condition of the plant, machinery, etc., or to the negligence of those who had superintendence entrusted to them. Under the present Act, however, an employer is liable to pay compensation to any worker, of either sex, who may be injured by accident in the employ of the employer, be such accident attributable to the negligence of the employer, or those entrusted with superintendence, or to the workers’ own carelessness or ignorance. The only circumstance under which an employer is not liable under the Act is in respect to any injury which is proved to be directly attributable -to the serious and wilful misconduct of the injured worker. After the second week of incapacity the injured worker can claim a weekly compensation not exceeding 50 per cent of his average weekly earnings during the previous twelve months, or any less period during which he has been in the employment of the same employer, such weekly payment not to exceed £2, and the total liability of the employer in respect thereof not to exceed £BOO. Where death results from injury and the worker or employee leaves others dependent upon his or her earnings at the time of death, the compensation is to be a sum equal to the worker’s earnings during the three years next preceding the injury, or the sum of £2oo— of these two sums is the larger, but not exceeding in any case £4OO, and if the period of the worker’s employment has been less than three years, then the amount of earnings shall be deemed to be 15*4 times the average weekly earnings during the period of the workers’ actual employment. All disputes as to the liability of an employer to pay compensation are to be settled as an industrial dispute by

the Arbitration Court, under the Industrial Arbitration Act, 1900. This Act applies not only to the employees or workers of either sex engaged in mining, quarrying, engineering, building and other hazardous work, but also to shop assistants and all employed in industrial, commercial and manufacturing work. To the worker the Act cannot be otherwise than a great boon, for few who have families dependent on their labour, even although they may have been in constant work for years, arc able in the event of being incapacitated through accident to provide and pay for home comforts and necessaries. On the other hand the Act may prove disastrous to employers unacquainted with its provisions, as many may through want of knowledge fail to protect themselves or guard their risk by insurance, and it is with a view of protecting their interests that we call attention to the stringent and comprehensive clauses of the Act.