7

H.-IIA

The Commission has no recommendation to make in respect of the following matters submitted for its consideration : — 1. That a miner who is a member of the Miners' Medical Society should not be debarred from receiving the amount of £l allowed by the Act for medical expenses. 2. That compensation be calculated on full time in the case of miners, instead of on actual time worked. 3. That the Act be amended in respect of the provision under which a worker may be required to indemnify his employer. 4. That the Act should be extended to members of co-operative parties in coal-mines (cases where land is leased to men). 5. That where provision is made in the schedule for the payment of 100 per cent, ratio of compensation, this be altered to £1,000. 6. That the percentages payable under the Second Schedule for the loss of various fingers be amended. 7. That compensation be payable where a worker is injured while assisting another worker to perform work which is not within the scope of the injured worker's employment. On other matters considered by the Commission we comment as follows :— Scope of Employment. Travelling to and from work : The Commission was asked to recommend an amendment to the Act so as to provide that workers be covered while travelling to and from work. We gave full consideration to this matter, but decided not to recommend any amendment, the reason being that such a provision would lead to costly litigation without much, if any, benefit to the injured worker. It was ascertained that in New South Wales 80 per cent, of claims under a similar provision could not be substantiated, and the provision has since been repealed. Further, we are of the opinion that such a provision would tend to load industry with the cost of social risks as distinct from risks properly attributable to employment. With respect to extending the benefits of the Act to neighbouring farmers when assisting each other, we are of the opinion that it is better to leave the Act as at present. If such farmers were brought under the Act, compensation payable, based as it would be on wages |)aid, would be so small as to be negligible. Insurance companies now make special provision for this class. Lump-sum Payments. The Commission has no recommendation to make on the suggestion that no deduction should be made from lump-sum payments on account of weekly payments which have been made during period of incapacity. Similarly, we have no recommendation to make with regard to the suggestion that 5 per cent, should not be deducted for present value in case of lump-sum payments. As the law now stands payment may be spread over a number of weeks ; lump-sum payments are a matter of convenience, and the deduction is the interest which would be earned by the employer if he retained the money, or could be earned by the worker if he invested the money. Waiting-time. It was agreed to leave the waiting-time, three days, as at present. To shorten the period would add to the costs of insurance by increasing the number of small claims and increasing administration costs out of all proportion to the benefits conferred. Appeals against Decisions of the Court. The Commission decided to make no recommendation in the direction of empowering the Court to reopen cases where decision had been given, being of the opinion that it would be detrimental to the interests of all parties and add greatly to legal costs if appeals were admitted. The Court now has power to grant suspensory awards in cases where there is a doubt as to the extent or duration of injury, and it has made these awards in many cases. To leave cases open to