"INSURE YOUR SERVANT."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 170, 17 January 1912, Page 7

"INSURE YOUR SERVANT."

THE NEW LAW DESCRIBED. EFFECT OF THE COMPENSATION ACT AMENDMENT. The insurance companies are preparing to extra business after the end of March, when the new provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act come into force, extending its full benefits to all manual workers, whatever their wages. The Act includes domestics, whoiare subject to a special clause, so that the intention of the Legislature shall be quite clear. Up till now, the ordinary domestic has not been able to claim compensation, except under rare circumstances, and there has been no demand for their insurance against accident, but the changed law throws an important responsibility on the householder, and the insurance companies are, as usual, prepared to take up the burden—for a consideration. What their charge will filially be is not yet decided, but enquiries made by a New Zealand Times | representative show that they will probably start with a minimum policy of ten shillings, which will cover up to £IOO of wages. If it is found that Marv Ann develops an expensive tendency to accidents the rates will be raised, but that is the position at present. With most householders this prospect is not so perplexing as the task of getting a servant to insure. The scarcity is general, affecting every class of domestic help, and it is not likely that the ad- , ditional protection' afforded 'by law will do anything to attract girls to the work, seeing that they are already covered if engaged in factories.

■| Domestics employed for a period less 11 than a week, such as charwomen, who ■ come once a week, are not included in the scope of the Act. An injury, to be the subject of compensation, must be one causing cessation from work for one week, the legislators having provided against a run on the insurance funds because of such trifles as cut Angers. The weekly compensation payable is limited to £2 10s, and the employer is liable for ; £1 medical expenses. The defence of serious and wilful misconduct is now of no avail in a compensation claim if the injury results in death or permanent disablemen. No agreement between an employer and a worker for settlement of any claim under 1 the Act is valid unless' supervised by a magistrate or an inspector of factories. THE LAW OF DEFENDANTS. <

One new general phase of the Compensation Act is important. In case of the death or permanent disablement of a worker, the law formerly provided that his partial dependants could obtain three times the amount the worker had paid them .in one year, this being a lump sum as compensation. Thus, if a son had sent his mother £l3 per annum and she ranked as a partial dependant, her compensation in a lump sum would be £39. But under the new Act it is to be "realonable in proportion to the injury to his dependants."