PROBLEM FOR JURY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 26, 23 October 1937, Page 9

PROBLEM FOR JURY

-Press ABBociatibn.)

"MigKt Well Have Cpnfounded Solomon" JUDGE'S C0MMENT

(Br Telegiaph-

OHRlSTOHtJHOH, Lftsh Night. ■'It would be unseemly for me to criticise these changes in the law, — I do but explain them, and? having done so, I can only ask you to retire and give your best c&nsideratioli to & difficulty which might well have coiifounded SolomOil hiixiself." That was the final tvofd of the eiitn-ming-up of Mr Justice Northcroft this morning in a case Which, in his WOrds "placed a ihilestone in the pfogression of the law.'' The jUry was asked to ' place the money value ad damages on the ','expectatidji of life" of a child aged three years seven months and the Judg'6 Said it was the first timo either here or in England, he thought, that a jtiry had been set that formidable problem, The. action Was brought under the Law Reform Act, 1936, and the Claiin for £2500 waS made by Owen Edward \Vilson, of Ouruhia, as administrator tif the estate of his infant Son, ffoln Georg© Holmes, of Ashburton. The child died following a motor COllision, one vehicle being driven hy the agent or employee of Holmes. The jury brought in a verdiet lor £1500. ' : The judge accepted a motion for judgm'ent but, on the requeSt of counsel for defendant, stood down further consideration, of the case for 14 'days.