MARITIME ACCIDENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 863, 8 July 1910, Page 6

MARITIME ACCIDENTS.

Under the Maritime Accidents Bill, which has been introduced by M'Laren, "maritime accident." means any accident on board or to a New Zealand ship, whether such aecident shall have happened in New Zealand or elsewhere, which was duo to the negligence or default of the owner or charterer of i;urh ship by himself or his servants or any of them; and "New Zealand ship'' means: (1) Any ship duly registered ill New Zealand; (2) any ship owned by a. body corporate established by Iho law of New Zealand, or having its principal place of business in New Zealand, or any ship in tho nossession of any such body corporate by virtue of a charter; (.1) any ship owned by any person or body corporate whose chief oflico or place of business in respect of the management of that ship is in New Zealand, or any ship in the possession of any such person or body corporate by virtue of a charter. An accident shall be deemed to lrnve happened in New Zealand if it shall have happened on any harbour or within tho marginal or other waters of Now Zealand. If and when any passenger on a New Zealand ship shall have' suffered 10.,s or damage in person or property in eonscqnence of any maritime accident, such passenger shall be entitled to maintain an action for damages against, the nwnc! or charterer of such ship, notwithstanding any contract. The provisions id' Sections" 17 to 20 (both inclusive) of tho Mercantile Law Act, 11198, are hereby extended, and shall apply to a New Zealand ship, whether in New Zealand or elsewhere, notwithstanding any contract or condition. When any accident mi board or to a New Zealand ship has been the subject of judicial inquiry, whether in Nov; Zealand oi I'lsowlien,, ami it lias lieen found that such accident was due to the negligence or default of the owner or charterer of such ship, or of the servants of such owner or charterer, or any of them, then and in such case the Court before whom any action for damages arising out of sucli accident shall subsequently be tried shall admit as evidence in support of such action tho judgment or finding of the tribunal before whom sucli original iuiiuii'v was held, or a eertilied copy of such judgment nr finding: provided that Iho 'judgment or finding of such tribunal shall not bo admitted if »u appeal lies ! I herefrom and the time limited i'or ap- ' pealing has not expired.