LEGAL INQUIRY COLUMN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 29, 4 February 1943, Page 3

LEGAL INQUIRY COLUMN

DAMAGES —II the break was caused by your wife's negligence you are liable to compensate the landlord to the extent that he has suffered loss. The total loss 01 a worn or partly damaged article is not the same >s an undamaged article. ■ You should offer your landlord halt the cost of. replacing the article. PUZZLED —There is nothing illegal <ibout the contract entered into by you. No doubt on paying all interest up> to date the other party will be prepared to terminate the arrangement. , DECEMBER —I am unable to advise you on- the provisions of the English l<-.w and regulations upon the matter in question. I think it unlikely that you will qualify for any benefit unless you have completed 20 years' residence in England. J M T. —There is no slander where the statement is true. In general a party who is sued for damages for slander does not attempt to prove that the statement was true, because if he attempts to do so and fails, it is an aggravation of the slander. In all the circumstances I think it will be in the interest of the person concerned that the unfortunate incident should be forgotten, as any attempt to take action for slander would probably cause more , publicity ' than the incident has received so far. PUZZLED —Unless there is anything to the contrary in the agreement between you and vour neighbour your proper course is as follows: You should first ask whether your neighbour Is agreeable to you each trimming half the hedge. If he refuses you should then give him notice under the Fencing Act requiring him to assist in trimming the hedge. If after seven days he neglects to trim the hedge you may trim the whole of the hedge and recover half the expense from him. INQUIRER —You are liable for national security and social security tax on your net income. Your net income will include the refund' made to you from overseas.