The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, January 14, 1909. NEW ARBITRATION ACT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 448, 14 January 1909, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, January 14, 1909. NEW ARBITRATION ACT.

Thij new Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which came into operation on January xst,, makes extensive changes in the method of dealing with industrial difficulties, though the principle of conciliation with compulsory arbitration behind it remains as before. Power is given to the Governor -in - Council to appoint four Conciliation Commissioners, but the Minister states that the number will not be more than three at first. It is interesting to study the schedule setting out the compensation due for partial incapacity, such as the loss of a limb or an eye. Each member, even a finger, has its money value in proportion to the earnings of the injured operative. In case of death the compensation shall be a sum of equal to 156 times the deceased workman’s average weekly earnings, with a minimum of ,£2OO and a maximum of ,£SOO. Assuming a case in which lull compensation would amount to the minimum ol ,£2OO, the damages which could have been obtained if death bad not resulted from the injury would be assessed as follows :

Loss of both eyes ... 200 Loss of both hands ... 200 Loss of both feet --- 200 Loss ot a hand and foot ... 200 Total and incurable loss of

metal powers, involving inability to work ... 200 Total and incurable paralysis of the limbs or of mental powers .... 200 Total loss of right arm or greater part of arm ... 160 Total loss of left arm or great part of arm ... 150 Total loss of right hand, or of five fingers on right hand, or of lower part of right arm... 140 Total loss of same for left hand and arm ... 130 Total loss of a leg ... 150 Total loss of sight of one eye, together with serious diminution of sight of other eye 150 Total loss of,hearing ... 150 Total loss of sight ,of one eye 60 Total loss of thumb ol right hand ... 60 Total loss of thumb of left hand ••• 5° Total loss of forefinger on right hand ••• 4° Total loss of forefinger of left hand ••• 3° Total loss of part of thumb of right baud 3° Total loss of little finger ... 24 Total loss of middle or ring finger ••• 16 Total loss of a toe or a joint of a finger ... xo Complete deafness of one ear 20 The figures quoted above are the minimum in each case, and in practice will generally be exceeded, though the proportional value of an eye compared with a leg or a finger remains the same. Persons whose average weekly wage exceeds do not come under the provisions ot the Act.