WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION IN ENGLAND tions, such particularly as "undertaker" (meaning thereby "employer"), "factory," "engineering works," "scaffolding," and what standard should be applied in measur ing "30 feet in height," and what was meant by "on, in, or about." County Court judges over-ruled arbitrators, the Appeal Court over-ruled the County Courts, and the House of Lords over-ruled the Appeal Court. However, many of the difficulties have been smoothed away, and doubtless the Act will be further amended in the future. A Com mission appointed by the Home Secretary recently, after carefully considering the question, issued a report recommending that the law be altered so that in future a work man who receives compensation under the Act shall not be allowed any other remedy (at present he has, in addition, his right at
common law and under the Workmen's Compensation Act, but can recover only once), that the scale of compensation to infants and apprentices shall be increased, that protection shall be extended to the workman whilst engaged in his master's work off his premises as well as on them, that the limitation of the height of the build ing and the existence of scaffolding shall be repealed, and that, the term "dependent" shall include brothers and sisters. Any attempt to repeal the law, or limit its scope, would be indignantly resented by the workmen, and the employers would probably also object, as they are covered by insurance at a comparatively cheap rate, while the insurance companies find a new and profit able field of business. LONDON, ENG., February, 1906.
