WORKERS’ COMPENSATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1156, 9 October 1913, Page 2

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION.

AN AMENDING BILL.

A Bill to amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, 1908, was circulated in the House of Representatives yesterday. A further protection is to be giveu to a worker who is under twenty-one years of age, or who is an indentured apprentice or improver. If such a worker should be so injured as to be permanently disabled, either wholly or partially, his average weekly wage is to be deemed to be the weekly sum which he would probably have been able to earn if he had then attained the age of twentyone years, or if he had completed his apprenticeship or had ceased to be an improver, being in no case less than jQ 2 per week. A new sub-clause provides that compensation may be claimed in respect of seamen when a New Zealand ship is lost with all hands. In such a case the claim must be made within eighteen months of the date at which the ship is deemed to have been lost with all bauds. The Act already applies to accidents on New Zealand ships which are not lost.

It is proposed that if the parties agree in writing to do so, proceedings for the recovery of compensation, or for determination of any question as to the distribution of such compensation among dependants may be taken before a magistrate. Proceedings for the recovery of compensation may be taken by the Public Trustee upon instruction from a party entitled to take proceedings. Unless there is a direction to the contrary, all compensation moneys shall be paid to the Public Trustee, who shall hold them until he receives a direction from the Court as to how they are to be disbursed. It is proposed, also, that the right to recover compensation shall survive notwithstanding the death either of the employer or of the worker. An amendment of the schedule provides that the compensation for the loss of one eye shall be 50 per cent, of the allowance lor total incapacity, and not 30 per cent., as formerly.