The Workman's Limbs.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 54, 22 March 1912, Page 2

The Workman's Limbs.

WHAT ARE THEY WORTH?

£3000 FOR AN ARM.

A considerable number of men are killed in war each year, as thero is generally a squabble going on eomowhero or other. With them are sometimes killed a number of women and children. However, far more men are killed »r maimed in the Course of their work every year that goes. The averago number of fatalities and lifo injuries in England. France, and Germany is equal to anything in the way of an ordinary battle, while in the United States no fewer than one million men are killed or maimed at their occupations each year. Australia is not free of the same kind of penalty, though here, through having few people, we esteem life well enough to have a number of protective ordinances- Franco goes pretty far in this direction, and perhaps in her case the law is influenced by a dragging population. The Republic decrees that every employer shall pay a certain percentage on hie wage-sheet by way of an insurance tax, the fund so created being used to relieve the widows and orphans of those who are killed. Within the pa3t 12 months over two million working men or their survivors have been thus provided for. Such a large number of eases'has, naturally, enabled the authorities to estimate with a considerable degree of accuracy the relative value of human members and faculties. In the case of death the wife or husband has a right to an annual income equal to 20 per cent, of the wage previously, earned. For orphans the income is proportionate to their age and the seriousness of the loss suffered. The amputation of both legs or thoir paralysis is equivalent to depriving a man of all power to work. Tho same is true if both anna are lo3t, although this ca3e has not occurred yet. The loss of the right arm or merely the right hand takes from the workman 80 per cent, of his working power. The samo calculation would apply to the left hand if the victim happens to l>o. left-handed. The loss of the left arm or jhand varies very much, according to tlie. occupation of tho injured. The expert forms an average based on various indemnities, giving for this injury 50 per cent, of tho working value of the man. Ono leg represents 70 per cent, of the working value of its owner; one foot 60 per cent. The man who ia injured so that he cannot move without crutches loses 95 per cent, of his value. He who ie attacked with partial paralysis of his face, acompanied by nervous trouble, loses 91 per cent, of his value. Vertigo, neurasthenia, and neuropathic trouble caused by accident, destroy from 50 to 60 per cent, of a man's value. Deafness in ono ear i 3 estimated at 6 per cent.; total deafness at 40 per cent. Masked decrease of sharpness of sight in both oye3 destroys 55 per cent, of a man's value, tho loss of one eye 33 and α-third per cent., and the loss of two eyes 100 per cc-nt. Two nostrils destroyed are calculated at 4 per cent., and one nostril only at 3 per cent. Two or moro vertebrae joined together and made stiff and immovable aro calculated at 50 per cent., inability to move right shoulder 50 p.c, putting the right shoulder out of joint 10 per cent., and breaking tho collarbone 7 per cent, The French law values an able-bodied workman at the start of his career at £3600. It is immaterial on which side the blame of an accident lies. As long as the accident took place during tho working hours at the place of work or in"the course of work required by the employer, tho victim is entitled to indemnity. An injury purposely sustained by an employee, of course, gives no right to compensation. Taking a workman in full n ua li noat > on as i HS * set out, it will be found that his right arm is worth nearly £3000; his left, under £2,000, unless he was. left-handed. A log would be valued at about £2100, ono of his feet at £2000, and one of his ears at £200. An eye is worth £1200, but both are. worth £3GOO, or his total valuo. A nostril is estimated at £100, a shoulder at £350, and a collarbone at about £280. Should he loso his right thumb ho may be entitled to about £700, Ins left £500, while hie right mdeic finger might entitle him to £550.— "Harrier Daily Truth. ,,