H—ll

(15) In the event of permanent physical injuries, lump sums based on £1,500 are to be paid according to the percentages set out in the Second Schedule to the principal Act. This replaces the present basis of a maximum of £l,OOO with a six-year limitation. Where permanent physical injury is suffered and is estimated by a medical referee, having regard to the " Schedule " injuries, as being not less than 10 per cent, of total incapacity, it is now to be treated as a " Schedule " injury of the percentage fixed by the medical referee. Compensation up to £250 may be paid during total incapacity due to illness resulting from a Schedule injury or one treated as a Schedule injury without affecting the lump-sum payment (based on £1,500). The Schedule itself it amended by eliminating the distinction previously made between right and left arms and hands and the fingers of such hands. (16) The Industrial Diseases Order is eliminated and compensation is now to be paid in respect of any disease contracted in the course of employment and due to the nature of the employment. Special provision is, however, made for miners' phthisis .■- (17) The right to compensation is extended to any member of the crew of a New Zealand aircraft, notwithstanding that the accident happens outside New Zealand, The Workers' Compensation Amendment Act, 1943, made provision for the payment of compensation for accidents occurring while a worker was travelling to or from his work by means of transport, other than a public passenger transport service, if the employer had provided the transport or authorized its use. This section is rewritten to provide for compensation also where the means of transport is a public passenger transport service if the employer has provided it primarily for the carriage of his employees or if the employer arranged with the worker or his union for his transport by that means of transport and was responsible for payment, or part-payment, of the worker's fare. (18) Provision is made for the provision of an artificial limb, hand, foot, or eye to be at the expense of the employer, together with its maintenance for three years. The employer's maximum liability is £5O or the first cost of the appliance, whichever is the greater. (19) An employer is now responsible to see that an injured worker is conveyed to hospital or to a doctor and then to his home or a hospital, or to his home for medical attention. (20) Part II of the Amendment Act operates from Ist April, 1948, in respect of accidents occurring on or after that date. (21) Part 111 of the Amendment Act contains a number of minor amendments, Section 11.—Staff (a) Amalgamation of Departments (1) Although the Labour Department and National Employment Service were officially merged under the name " Department of Labour and Employment " from Ist April, 1947, the task of actual amalgamation extended beyond that date by some months. During that period a great deal of attention was given to determining the joint staff establishment required throughout the Dominion, to advertising approximately 250 controlling and sectional positions and making appointments to these positions, and to the acquisition or remodelling of adequate office accommodation for the combined staffs in each district. The task of making all appointments above the basic grade was completed by the beginning of July, 1947, and within the ensuing few months success in physically merging the local offices in each centre was achieved, although in some instances with makeshift and inconvenient arrangements.

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