PIONEER LEGISLATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 232, 1 October 1928, Page 9

PIONEER LEGISLATION.

'ABSOLUTELY EXPERIMENTAL'

PROTECTION OF PUBLIC. THIED-PARTY RTSKS. "It is absolutely experimental," said an insurance representative to-day, in commenting on the Motor Insurance Bill. "New Zealand occupies the position of a pioneer in legislation of this kind in the world." As to the need of protecting the public, he said, the first and most dangerous motorist was the natural "Go to h —" driver, who was serene in the knowledge that hie liability insurance would protect him against any flareback from persons injured through his carelessness. It was only human nature for a man to be careless when he knew that someone else would foot the bill. Scores of injuries were reported to-day which a couple of years ago would never have come to light. Some of these were nothing more than a broken finger, a strained joint or a bruise. They would have been charged «

to bad luck in previous times, but all were now promptly reported to insurance companies and the authorities. Aches and Pains. Then there were aches and pains of a mysterious nature, which could only be salved by the application of insurance ointment. The etceteras of a company claim office included such things as "concussions," "strained backs," "twisted spines," "bruised internal organs" and others. Motor insurance has received much attention in other countries, particulary' America, Great Britain and ou the Continent, but it has hardly yet reached the. stage of Government legislation. It is considered that, in New Zealand, the number of insured owners of motor cars is 75 or 80 per cent of the total, and it is the 20 per cent that the Government is chiefly concerned with. If a man has a car on time payment, and he causes an injury to a member of the public, it often happens that he is unable to pay full compensation. Cases of this kind come within the scope of the bill and there is provision for cancelling a license, in cases where a motorist fails to satisfy the authorities that he is a capable driver. Evidence Desired. "It is my opinion that this is 'rush' legislation, which has not been given due and proper consideration," said a keen motorist, when asked for his views. "It is a distinct violation of the liberty of the subject." He declared that motorists on the road who were uninsured were people with uninsurable cars, people who were uninsurable themselves for obvious reasons, and certain wealthy people who carried their own risk. "Personally," he continued, "I believe the Government would be wise to drop the bill for this session and have evidence taken from motorists and insurance officers. I think that such e\ idence would clearly go to prove tnc fallacy of the proposition.