MOTOR DAMAGES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 15, 11 October 1937, Page 8

MOTOR DAMAGES

-Pres* A«»ooiation.)

Removal of Need to Prove Negligence MINISTER'S DEFENCE

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Saturday. The Hon. H. G. B. Mason, Minister of Justice, said yesterday to representatives of motoring organisations wbo m-et him at his invitatioh to discuss the Motor-Yehieles Damages Bill that no* one could really deny that the existing law wa® unsatisfactory and worked grave injustices. He expressed . disappointment at nofc flnding any constructive help from the motor unions. He quoted both Sir Francis Bell and Bir John Salmond as condemnatory of the law concerning contributory negligence, and said that Courts having jurisdiction in marino collisions had never followed it. « Juries had difflculty in applying it. It was the- present law that gave rise to the stigma of negligence, whereas the Bill would remove the necessity of bTanding a motorist as negligent before an injured person could be compensated. The present Third-party Bisks Act indemnified the owner completely. He had now no civil responsibility in the matter under the law to-day.- He was personally liahle for injuring a dog _but not a human being. He gave an assurance tbat the Bill would not be rushed through and that motorists would have a further opportunity of considering the matter. I . ■ ■