Page 4 Advertisements Column 2

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2225, 31 October 1907, Page 4

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BILL AN OFFICIAL SUMMARY. (Special to Times). IV F.L LINO TOON, October 30. The Worker’s Compensation Bill bus just bis'n circulated , It repeals and consolidates all existin'; enactments as to workers’ compensation, anil makes a number of amendments, of which the following are the most important : SCOFF. OF THIS BILL. The claim to compensation is extended to all classes of employees who ni'i> engaged in the trade or business of their employer, whatever the nature of that trade or business may be. The only persons exempted tire -employees whose average remuneration exceeds .Co per week. Servants of the Crown and ot local and public authorities, as specified in a schedule, are also excluded. Persons engaged in haxardous employment, as defined in a schedule, are included, although they are not engaged in the trade or business of their employers. No employer is liable to pay compensation to any relation (as defined in this Bill) of any person who is employed by him. Claims of this sort made against insurance companies are the'source of much trouble, and do not deserve to bo encouraged. COMPENSATION ON DFAT.I t. In the case of total dependency the maximum is increased from IMOO to £SOO. Funeral and medical expenses not exceeding £2O are in every case to be added to the compensation payable. ' COMPENSATION FOll INCAPACITY.

The lump sum to lieu ot weekly payments is fixed at the present value of the weekly payments that would lie received (the present law contains no definite provision). Compensation for partial incapacity is fixed at half the loss of wage, just as compensation for total incapacity is, and had been, half the total wages >' eeklv payments are in every case limited to six years. At present ah workins permanently incapacitated eventuam receive tile same aggregate amount-, regardless of their wages, .localise t ie same maximum is fixed for all. Iho new provision makes the total comnensatioii vary with the wages icceivtd bv the worker at the time ot the accident. The maximum sum is raised from £3OO to £SOO. Certain specific injuries (stated in a schedule) have fixed' dates of compensation allotted to them, as amounting either to the total or some definite proportion of the total disablement. This Provision will avoid any dispute as to tlie®amouut. of compensation in these cases, and will also secure substantial compensation for serious injury, even though the immediate result- ot the injury is comparatively small.

LOSS OF WAGES. Tho earning powers of a clerk, lor example, mav bo a little reduced by tiie loss of a leg, but he will nevertheless obtain substantial compensation The term “average weekly earnings” is defined in accordance with tho English Act of 1906. Additional compensation is awarded to workers permanently injured while under ‘2l years of age, for the present earning power of such uorkcis does not represent their real loss. INDUSTRIAL LOSS. Compensation is given for certain diseases incurred in the course ot a worker’s employment. This is m accordance with the English Act ol 1906 SEAMEN. Tho benefits of tho Act are extended to all seamen engaged in New Zealand ships, whether the accident happens in New Zealand wateis oi MAGISTRATE’S COURT. Exclusive jurisdiction in compensation cases is given to the Court of Arbitration, the limited power ot magistrates being taken away, Ihe provisions of the present law on this subject are unsatisfactory and indeed unworkable. . CONTRACTING. The present law as to tho liability of a principal to the workers eniploved by a contractor is modified to some extent. The principal is made liable if two conditions are iulhlled, (a) the contract must he worth at least £2O unless the work to be done is directly a part of the principals own trade or business, and (oj tiie accident must happen on premises owned, occupied, or used by tiie principal. DECLARATION OF LIABILITY In the case of injuries which do not presently cause any incapacity but which may do so in the future, provision is made for obtaining a declaiation of liability on which compensation may be afterwards assessed. COSTS. . . Provisions are made for the limitation of legal costs iiU proceedings for' compensation. CONTRACTING OUT OF THE ACT. Schemes of insurance between an employer and his workers, in lieu of tho benefits of the Act, are abolished. EMPLOYERS’ LIABILITY ACTS. - These Acts are repealed on the ground that they are now superfluous and a. cause of complexity and iinnecessary litigation. Under the Bill a worker has two remedies —(a) if he can prove persona! negligence against his master he can sue at common law for damage, (b) ivbother the master is negligent or not the servant can suo for compensation under this Act, but lie cannot sue his employer for damages merely because of the negligenco of a l’cllow servant. The foregoing summary is by Mr. J. IV. Salmond, counsel to the law drafting office.

DISORDERS OE THE STOMACH Aro responsible for nine-tenths of the ills that human flesh is heir to. If you keep your stomach right, you can bo pretty sure of good health. Cure vour stomach, and you cure the rest. "Get it in good condition, and keep it so, and you'will be able to stop all the dosing and physicing that seem so necessary to you now. There is only one way to accomplish this purpose, and that is to ensure the digestion of the food you eat. Dr. Sheldon’s Digestive Tabules represent the natural juices of digestion as they exist in a healthy stomach, combined with tonic and reconstructive properties They actually do the work of the stomach, and enable that organ to rest, recuperate, and become strong and well. In fact, under their influence a man forgets ho over had a stomach. He again becomes a good fellow, and a man among men. Obtainable from A. W. J. MANN. Agent. Chemist.

JJVRUIT AND m aeket Can INCREASE THEIR CROPS And get BETTER and LARGER FRUIT By Spraying with SWIFT’S ARSENATE OF LEAD, Tlio best known remedy for Codim Moth and all leaf-eating insects. Gardeners Gi ROWERS T Procurable from H.G. GIBBONS and GO. GLADSTONE-ROAD, Gisborne. T. S. TREWERN, Manager.