Compensation Act

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 36, 10 November 1911, Page 11

Compensation Act

SOME IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS.

Since the inauguration of the N.Z. F.L., some most important amendments have been made to the Workers' Compensation Act, mainly through the persistent agitation carried on by that organisation.

Last session the clause which admitted the amount received in weekly payments being deducted from any amount payable through partial or total incapacity, was deleted, and the injured worker is entitled to a lump sum (in event of permanent or partial incapaciey) without any deduction whatever in respect to amount received in weekly payments. In reply to a deputation which waited upon the Prime Minister during the last Federation Conference, Sir Joseph Ward stated that Cabinet was quite prepared to make the Act reciprocal as far as any portion of the British Dominions are concerned. This has since been carried out. The result is that reciprocity now exists .between Great Britain, Queensland and Western Australia. During the last session, many important amendments agitated for by the N.Z.F.L. were introduced into the Act. The most important of these was the inclusion of domestic workers within the scope of the measure. It wil be remembered by most members of the. Federation how, as a result of a resolution passed by annual conference, branches of the Federation throughout New Zealand held protest meetings against the exclusion of domestic workers from the benefits of the Act.

Another important amendment was the wiping out of the £5 limit clause in respect to manual labour. Under the previous provisions a worker might have been in receipt of a couple of pounds a week for eleven months of the year, but in the last month, going to work for another employer, and earning more than £5 a week, would be denied any compensation whatever in case of accident, the lower wages earned for the previous eleven months notwithstanding.

Under tne amended Act, an eye, hand, foot, finger, etc., is deemed to have been lost when rendered stiff or useless, though not actually lost—a decided improvement upon the previous provisions.

Clause 15 of the Act was radically altered. This clause, which refers to wilful neglect on the part of the worker, was so amended by omitting the words "or killed" and substituting "unless the injury results in the death or serious permanent disablement." The effect of this will be that the dependents of any worker who meets with serious injuries, even when such injuries are the result of carelessness or neglect on the part of the injured workman, will not be left in destitution, but will be provided for, irrespective as to how the accident occurred.

Another humane clause inserted into the Act last session provides that where a wife is living apart from her husband she shall be deemed to be dependent, even when not in receipt of support, providing that the separation is not due to her own fault.

Regarding the "domicile clause" the Federation has been tireless in its attempts to have this blot removed from an otherwise humane measure. As a result of correspondence, the Federation is in receipt of a communication from the N.S.W. Government, promising reciprocity with New Zealand in connection with its Compensation Act.

The many important additions and deletions to the Compensation Act herein hurriedly dealt with are due, not so much to any politicians, as 'to the untiring efforts of the Federation of Labor.

It goes to demonstrate the fact thatthe N.Z.F.L., whilst maintaining its revolutionary poliOy, is far more successful in the attainment of existing necessities than tlujse bodies wh*> are forever clamoring for present needs and ignoring the objective.