The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

104 The Journal of the Association of Cine-Technicians Dec, iy36-jan., 1937 Workmen's Compensation and NonManual Workers DEPUTATION FROM NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PROFESSIONAL WORKERS TO THE HOME SECRETARY A matter of great importance to film and other technicians was the subject of a deputation to the Home Secretary recently. Sir John Simon was accompanied by the Parliamentarj/ Under-Secretary, Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd, M.P., and a number of his principal advisers, including Mr. R. R. Ballantyne, C.B., Assistant Under Secretary of State. The deputation was introduced by the President of the National Federation of Professional Workers, Mr. George Lathan, J. P., M.P. (Chief Assistant Secretary of the Railway Clerks' Association), and the case was stated by : — Screen Brightness — continued from previous page. 43. Broca, A. : "Causes retimennes de I'acuite visuell en lumiere blanche," J. Physiol. Path. Gen., Paris, 3 (1901), p. 384. 44. Cobb, P. W., and Moss, F. K. : "Glare and the Four Fundamental Factors in Vision," Trans. I.E.S., 23 (1928), p. 1104. 45. Johnson, H. M.: " ReactionTime Measurements," Psychol. Bull., 20 (1923), p. 562. "Speed, Accuracy and Constancy of Response to Visual Stimuli as Related to the Distribution of Brightnesses over the Visual Field," J. Exp. Psychol. 7 (1924), p. 1. 46. Talbot, H. F. : "Experiments on Light, 11., on Photometry," Phil. Mag., 5 (1834), p. 327. 47. D' Arcy : "Sur la duree de la sensation de la vue," Mem. de I' Acad, des Sci., 1765, p. 450. 48. Ferry, E. S. : "Persistence of Vision," Amer. J. Sci., 3rd Ser., 144 (1892), p. 192. 49. Porter, T. C. : "Contributions to the Study of Flicker," Proc. Roy. Soc, London, 63 A (1898), p. 347. 50. Ives H. E. : "Studies in the Photometry of Lights of Different Colours, I." Phil. Mag. [ser. 6), 24 (1912), pp. 149-188, 352-370, 744-751, 845-863. 51. Lythgoe, R. J., and Tansley, K. : "The Adaptation of the Eye : its Relation to the Critical Frequency of Flicker," Medical Research Council, Special Report Series No. 134, London, H.M.S. 52. Cobb, P. W. : "The Momentary Character of Ordinary Visual Stimuli," Psychol. Bull. 17 (1920), p. 44. "The Relation between Field Brightness and the Speed of Retinal Impression, I. and II., J. Exp. Psychol., 6 (1923), p. 138; 8 (1925), p. 11. "Some Experiments on the Speed of Vision," Trans. I.E.S., 19 (1924), p. 150. "The Meaning of 'Speed of Vision,'" Trans. I.E.S. 20 (1934), p. 253. 53. Luckiesh, M. : "Discussion of Cobb's Paper on 'The Speed of Vision,'" Trans. I.E.S., 19 (1924), p. 164. 54. Ferree, C. E., and Rand, G. : "The Effect of Variation of Visual Angle, Intensity, and Composition of Light on Important Ocular Functions," Trans. I.E.S., 17 (1922), p. 69. 55. Easier, A. : "Uber das Schen von Bewegungen, VII., Der Einfluss der Helligkeit auf das Eikennen Kleiner Bewegungen," Arch.f. d.ges. Physiol.. 199 (1923), p. 457. 56. Israel, H. F.-. : "Accommodation and Convergence under Low Illumination," J. Exp. Psychol., 6 (1923), p. 223. 57. Engelking, E. : "Die Schwellcnwert der Pupillenreaktion und seine Beziehungen zum Problem der Pupillomotorischen Aufnahmeorgane," Zeiisch f. Sinnesphysiol., 50 (1919), p. 319. 58. Reeves, P.: "The Effect of Various Physical Stimuli on the Pupillary Area and Retinal Sensibility," B.J. 64 (1917), p. 415. "The Rate of Pupillary Dilation and Contraction," Psychol. Rev., 25 (1918), p. 330. "The Response of the Average Pupil to Various Intensities of Light," J. Opt. Soc. Amer., 4 (1920), p. 35. 59. Luckiesh, M., and Moss, F. K. : "Area and Brightness of Stimulus Related to the Pupillary Light Reflex," J. Opt. Soc. Amer., 24 (1934), p. 130. Mr. George W. Thomson, the Vice-President (Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen). Mr. Stephen W. Smith, General Secretary. Mr. J. W. Thomas (Electrical Power Engineers' Association). The case as stated by the Federation's speakers related to the following three points : — 1. The need for amending Workmen's Compensation law so as to ensure adequate compensation for all workers affected thereby, so that such compensation shall bear a proper relation to the earnings of the injured worker. 2. The need for removing the salary limitation. 3. The desirability and even the necessity for making it compulsory upon all employers to cover the liability in question by insurance or its equivalent. Mr. Lathan, in his opening statement, emphasised once more, as on previous deputations to Ministers, the handicaps and limitations under which Non-Manual Workers laboured in regard to protective legislation. Mr. Thomson quoted several striking examples of anomalies and hardships arising out of recent experience among members of his own association, and followed with some figures deahng with the estimated extent of the suggested changes as advocated by the National Federation. There was, he said, rather less than a 5% potential increase in the total of the number of persons that would be eligible for compensation. And it had to be remembered tliat this comparatively small addition related to workers whose ratio of accident risk was much less than that of workers in direct and constant contact with the dangerous occupations. Mr. J. W. Thomas spoke on behalf of Technicians, largely excluded by the Salary Limitation from Workmen's Compensation law and driven, as an alternative, to seek the protection of the Common Law. Here they were frequently faced with the plea of the Doctrine of Common Employment, under which all too often the employer was able to resist successfully the claim for compensation. He stressed the emergence in recent years of a large new class in industry of technicians and similar workers. These represented an important and increasing factor which needed to be taken seriously into account in considering the problem of Workmen's Compensation. Sir John Simon complimented the Deputation on the logical and reasonable case which had been so clearly presented. He liientioned that there was a committee of the Board of Trade at present sitting and examining questions relating to compulsory insurances. Possibly the finding of that Committee may be of value in connection with tlie subject matter of the deputation. The Home Secretary was undoubtedly impressed hx the case which was placed before him, and while not promising any easy or quick advance in the legislation in (juestion, he made it clear that the points put forward would recei\-e his close and careful attention. Offer to Members Alexander Davies, the well-known Studio Furnislicr, invites oiu^ members to visit their showrooms at 370 Euston Road, N.W.I L^pon production of their membership card they will be allowed a discount of 33] per cent.