In the House of Commons on Monday the Home Secretary
introduced a Bill to make further provision with respect to workmen's compensation for injury. The Bill, which is a consolidating Bill superseding the Acts of 1880 and 1897, extends the right to compensation to all workmen other than police-constables, clerks, domestic servants, and members of an employer's family dwelling in his house. In order to protect small employers who are practically workmen, it is provided that no employer shall come under the Act unless his workmen exceed five in number, the ease of farmers, however, being excepted, and also certain specific forms of accident. Certain industrial diseases, such as anthrax, are to be classed as accidents, and the Home Secretary has power to enlarge the schedule. Compensation may be claimed after a week's disablement, instead of a fortnight's, and elaborate provisions are made for assessing damages in the case of non continuous employment, and for settling differences as to the nature of disablement by means of medical referees. The Bill was, on the whole, well received.
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