WORKERS’ COMPENSATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1921, Page 8

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION.

NEW BILL INTRODUCED. (From. Our Parliamentary Reporter.] Wellington, Sept. 29. A Workers’ Compensation ißill has been introduced by Mr. Howard, the Labor member for Christchuich South. It proposes that if. a worker has suffered an injury in the course of his employment and the resulting incapacity is greater, owing to prior injury, congenital defect or disease, than would otherwise have been the case, the Court may disregard the scale laid down in the schedule of the main Act and award such compensation as may appear reasonable ami proportionate to the injury. Another clause proposes that in respect of accidents in seasonal occupations, such as shearing or slaughtering, the Court, in estimating average weekly earnings, shall have regard to the average usually earned throughout the season. Compensation is to be assessed on this average notwithstanding the fact that earnings prior to the accident may have been higher or lower than the average. A further provision is that when an accident causing injury to a worker is due to the collapse or breaking of any gear or appliance, it shall be the duty of the employer to preserve the broken or damaged part pending any action for damages. If the employer fails to do this, the accident shall be presumed to be due to negligence on his part.