ARMY DRIVERS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23714, 12 August 1942, Page 2

ARMY DRIVERS

LIABILITY IN CASE OF ACCIDENTS

IMPROVED BASIS SAID TO

HE LIKELY

The liability of drivers of Army vehicles involved in accidents is expected to be placed on a more satisfactory basis, according to statements at the meeting of the executive of the South Island Motor Union last evening.

Concern was recently expressed by both the North Island and South Island Motor Unions that advantage was being taken of section 5 of the Crown Suits Amendment Act whereunder drivers of Army vehicles were not deemed to be servants of His Majesty for such purposes, and therefore if accidents resulted the Crown was free of liability. The unions also asked for improvement in the limitation of time in which an action could be brought as fixed by the Defence Act. Both acts were more than 30 years old. it was stated, and changes had brought a state of affairs for which the legislation was unsuitable and unfair.

The executive last evening received the Attorney-General's reply to the unions’ representations. The reply was:—

“The Government, has already decided to indemnify drivers of vehicles in certain cases where members of the Defence Forces are acting under the orders of a superior officer. Further consideration will be given to the question of limitation of time for bringing actions.” The secretary (Mr P. Harvey) said that Otago had regarded the statement as rather ambiguous or vague, and had asked that more detailed information be obtained.

Mr P. W. Breen (Otago) said his association had taken up the question with the Chamber of Commerce in Dunedin, and it was believed that every Army driver was supposed to have a running sheet of instructions, and was therefore under a superior officer’s orders.

The chairman tMr W. R. Carey) said, after a statement in committee, that he could assure the executive that remedial action was being considered by the Government.