Time Extended for Making Claims Over the Fire

Grey River Argus, 13 April 1948, Page 5

Time Extended for Making Claims Over the Fire

WELLINGTON, April 12. Legislation is to be introduced during the next sesssion of Parliament to provide for an extension of the time for the hearing of notice ana the taking of legal action in respect of all matters arising out of the fire at J. M. Ballantyne and Co.. Ltd., in Christchurch, on November 18. This was announced to-dav by the Attorney-General, Hon. Mr .H. G. R.

Mason, who said that the intention was to extend to the end of July the time foi' giving notice of claims and to extend the time for commencing court proceedings, to the end of September. Both of these extensions would supercede any shorter periods that might be prescribed in any Statute whatsoever. The legislation would be sufficiently comprehensive to cover proceedings for contribution or indemnification.

The Minister explained that there were various Statutes relating to the nature of claim or the nature of the defendant corporation that, in some instances, imposed comparatively short time limits for the giving of notice or the taking of legal proceedings. By reason of the comprehensive nature of the investigation now being made by the Royal commission, some prospective claimants had feared that its work might not be completed sufficiently early bO enable them to consider whether they could sustain their claims, or against whom their claims should be directed. The course of justice would be best served by allowing further time for claimants. ' Mr Mason said that he made his statement, lest those affected feared that their claims might be jeopardised by awaiting conclusion of the inquiry.