MINERS' INSURANCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3090, 12 January 1909, Page 5

MINERS' INSURANCE.

CUTTING OFF SUPPLIES TO NEW ZEALAND. By Telegraph—Press Association. Received January 11, 10.2 a.m. SYDNEY, January 11. The Newcastle Miners' Federation, in response to a cable Jmessage from the New Zealand Miners' Federation, has adopted a resolution pledging assistance to the New Zealand miners, and undertaking to at once co-operate with the waterside workers, with a view to cutting off supplies of coal to New ! Zealand. What steps the federation proposes shall be taken to carry the resolution into effect are not disclosed. WAIHI, HUNTLY AND KIRIPAKA MINERS. THE THAMES BY-ELECTION. AUCKLAND, January 11. A meeting, attended by representatives of the Auckland Labour Unions and of the Waihi, Huntly and Kiripaka Miners' Unions discussed the present difficulty of insurance of miners.

Resolutions were passed congratulating the Miners' Federation upon the firm stand taken, rejoicing that they had come with credit and honour out of the fight, and assuring the lederation that in any such struggle it would have tha mora! and active support of the unions represented, at thft meeting. [t was further resolved —"That, to minimise any attempt of Parliament to delete clause 10, relating to 'miners' disease,' this meeting strongly urges the Miners' Federation, and the Thames Miners' Union to run a bona fide miners' representative in the Thames by-election." TEXT OF RESOLUTIONS. GOVERNMENT'S CONFIDENCE WILL NOT BE MISPLACED. REEFTON, January 11. The Press was not admitted to last Saturday's meeting of the Union, but the following has been handed in as the text of the resolutions adopted:— "1. That, in. view of the action of the Government, this meeting of the Inangahua Miners' Industrial Union hereby empowers the executive of the New Zealand Federation of Miners to arrange a settlement of the existing difficulty on the terms outlined in the Premier's telegram." "2. That, inasmuch as the proposal of the Government does not embody a medical test, this meeting declares that, as far as the miners are concerned, the existing difficulty is at an end." "3. That this meeting cordially appreciates the action of the Premier in prepounding a practical solution of the difficulty that has arisen, and with reference to his statement 'that the Government relies on the honour of miners that none but bona fide claims shall be made under section 10, desires to assure him that the confidence of the Government will not be misplaced." No further news is to hand.

EMPLOYERS DOUBTFUL. REEFTON, January 12. News of the hope of a settlement of the mining dispute by the taking over of the insurance by the Government has been very favourably received here. An execnive meeting of the Miners' Federation was held last night and a conference of the employers to-day. The latter are doubtful regarding the proposed amendment of the law when Parliament meets, and are consulting Ministers. The result of the consultation is expected at any time.

MR SKERRETT'S OPINION. WELLINGTON, January 11. Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C., has given an opinion regarding the mining trouble. Mr Skerrett says: "The section 10 of the Workers' Compensation Act is extremely difficult to construe. To entitle the worker compensation under the section he must be able to establish that he contracted the disease within twelve months previous to the date of disablement. It is difficult to see how either mine owners or insurance companies can possibly dispose with the periodical examination of miners under the law as at present framed. At present mine owners are only liable if the disease is contracted within twelve months previous to the date of disablement, and only continue to be liable if death or incapacity occurs within twelve months after the worker ceases to be employed by the employer. Without medical examination it is plainly impossible to tell when the disease has been contracted, and it is therefore essential for the employers and the insurance companies to have a ueriodical examination of the workers for the purpose of ascertaining whether the disease was contracted within twelve months of the disability or death. So long, therefore, as the law remains in its present condition, it seems to me impossible to dispense with a periodical examination of the men. Directly the Government insurance policies expire the position will be exactly the same as it is to-day; the same questions will arise, and the same precautions will be necessary except

of course as far as they may be affected by the new legislation, the nature of which it is impossible to predict." The Advisory Board of the Employers' Federation met this afternoon to consider Mr Skerrett's opinion on the situation. It was decided to convey to the Government the Board's regret at the action taken in connection with this matter, it being 1 held that the interests of the mine owners had not bean sufficiently considered, and that the attitude of the Government was very unfair to the insurance companies doing business in the Dominion. Exception was I also taken to the fact that the Government communicated its intentions to the Miners' Federation, and did not at the same time make known its decision to either the mine owners or the Employers' Federation. The question was not discussed at; any length, as the affiliated bodies are being communicated with, and upon receipt of their replies further action will be taken by the Advisory Board. It was also resolved that the foregoing protest be sent on to the Prime Minister.