§ SIR EDWARD WATKIN, in moving for leave to bring in a Bill to provide for compensation to workpeople of joint-stock companies and of private employers of labour in cases of accident arising from causes beyond the control of the person employed, and occurring during the hours of lawful employment, said, his object was to facilitate the means of effecting compensation in cases of persons who met with injuries in the service of their employers, in cases wherein the injury was not caused by rash acts of their own. He might say that there was much—very much to be modified and mitigated in cases of accidents. It was only a few days ago, that the case of a boy, who was injured by an accident, was brought under his notice. The injury was serious; but the boy failed to get any compensation, and was living upon charity. It had been said that when persons took employment, they took it with all the risk that attached to it. That might be true in some cases; but the tendency of legislation now was rather against the capitalist. He did not propose to do anything which would place a distinct burden upon the shoulders of the capitalists or the employer, but rather to define a risk which was at present indefinite, and by so doing rather to diminish litigation than to encourage it. He proposed, therefore, to do away with those impediments which prevented a person injured during his employment suing his employer, but to limit the amount of compensation recoverable to a sum not exceeding a year's wages or salary receivable by the person who had been killed or injured. To simplify the mode of recovery he proposed to extend the jurisdiction of the County Courts in order to enable them to deal easily and cheaply with the cases as they arose, and believing that in most cases it would not be a matter of litigation, but of friendly arrangement, he further proposed to give power to the employer to make a settlement with the relatives of the man who had been killed, or with the injured man himself. He proposed to insert a clause fixing a limit of time, after which no claim should be made, so that there should be no contingent liability hanging over an em- 1707 ployer's head. The Bill would apply to working women as well as working men.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill to amend the Law relating to Compensation for injuries suffered by persons in the course of their employment, ordered to be brought in by Sir EDWARD WATKIN. Mr. CHARLES GILPIN, and Mr. CHAPMAN.
§ Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 91.]