SHIPPING COMPANIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1855, 15 September 1913, Page 3

SHIPPING COMPANIES.

Sir, —New Zealanders and others making trips to Australia and other places do not, 1 think, fully understand the position certain companies in tho Dominion intend to place them in, when in the hurry of booking passages they are induced, without any explanation, to sign thoir names at tho foot of the series of printed/conditions endorsed on tho back of the passage ticket. It is an undoubted attempt 011 tho part of tho companies to contract-themselves out; of every liability for compensation to anyone for any accident happening to the persons of the passengers in the course of tho voyage, cvtj though the same may have arisen from their own negligence or that of thou- servants. i'our feaders will remember that judgments awarding compensation were given 'against the owners of tno ill-fated s.s. Titanic ii} the English Courts in favour of' dependents of passengers, upon the ground that the catastrophe hud happened through tho negligence of the sorvant, the commander of the vessel, in driving her at an excessiyo speed in the vicinity of the floating ice. It would surelv come as a shock to a dependent of a passenger commencing an action in tho Dominion for tompensation for the death of a relative to'find the signed passenger ticket produced, with the view of avoiding such a claim where that death had occurred entirely through tho nogligence of the company or some ono or other of its servants. Nevertheless, this may be expected, for whatever clso would such a contract bo asked for? Shipping companies in the Dominion having so lucrative a business as this Australian trade is should bo compelled bylaw to obtain indemnification by insurance, rather than attempt to place the liability upon tho unfortunate dependent. This is a'mattcr'of the utmost public importance; disaster may occur any day, and it-is, I think, quite wrong that there should bo any doubt about payment of claims arising thereunder, should it unfortunately occur. ' The taking of such contracts should bo absolutely forbidden by tho. mercantile statute iaw of thi£ Dominion, thus leaving tho liability for compensation in such cases to bo placed by tho Courts of Law upon tho shoulders of thoso properly liablo for the same.—l am, etc., J. HERBERT HANKINS. Palmerston North.