WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1920, Page 5

WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

BULL PASSED IN THE COUNCIL. [ By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative Council to-night, ;Sir Francis Bell moved the committal of the Workers' Compensation Amendment Bill. The Hon. J. MacGregor said the 1911 Act provided for a limitation of £SOO for compensation, which was extended by the present Bill to £750. It had ■been held that the limitation applied only to actions for compensation under the Workers' Compensation Act. He intended, in committee, to move, therefore, to add, after the words "action brought under this Act" in section 13 of the, 1911 Act, the words "or in any other action," so as to carry out the original intention.

The Hon. J. Barr said that if the amendment was carried at this stage of the session It would mean the killing of the Bill, for the point raised was one of the most debatable in the House of Representatives. He contended it would be unfair to limit all compensation to £760.

The Hon. M. Cohen said he had been asked by the Amalgamated Society of Engineers to bring before the Government a suggestion that all matters under the Bill should be referred to a board of three, somewhat similar to the Californian charter.

„ Sir [Francis Bell said ho could not accept the amendment. The Bill had been brought in simply for the purpose of increasing the amount owing to the depreciation in ihe pound sterling. Mr. MacGregof s amendment was defeated by 23 vote 9 to 3, and the Bill was read a and passed.