Innkeepers’ Liability Changes

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29956, 18 October 1962, Page 18

Innkeepers’ Liability Changes

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Oct. 17. A new code governing the liability of innkeepers in respect of the property of their guests is provided in an Innkeepers Bill introduced to Parliament today. It replaces the rules of common law and certain sections of the Licensing Act, 1908.

The definition of an innkeeper is widened to include those who offer the general public accommodation without meals. This will bring within the scope of innkeepers liability the proprietors of motels. All licensed hotels are inns for the purposes of the bill.

It makes innkeepers liable for damage or destruction of goods as well as loss of goods brought to the inn. This means the innkeeper is liable in the event of a fire. The bill also increases the monetary limit of liability in respect of any one guest from £3O to £l5O, with a maximum of £4O for any one article, but these limits will not apply to articles deposited with the innkeeper for safekeeping. The bill take* away from innkepers the liability for the vehicles of guests, but deprives them of the right to hold and sell vehicles in satisfaction of a debt owed. The bill will come into force on June 1. 1363. Lucerne Seed

The Department of Agriculture is not satisfied from it* own tests that Hunter river lucerne seed from Australia has any particular advantages over the New Zealand certified strain. The Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) said this was

why licences were not being issued for the Australian seed. Estate Duties The Minister of Finance (Mr Lake) said cuts in estate duties would aid the growth of the economy and encourage production. He said death duties should not depress any sector of the economy, as it did when the present Government took office. Mr Lake was speaking to the second reading of the Estate and Gift Duties Amendment Bill, which implements concessions granted in the Budget. The Opposition did not debate the measure. Token Licences Possible restoration of token licence* was being considered In a review of the 196263 import licensing schedule, said Mr Shelton. The new schedule would be released shortly. Mr Shelton said he placed high priority on the token licence scheme, because it provided a greater variety of oversea* goods for a small

amount of overseas exchange. Forest Insurance Farm woodlots would be protected against fire by a special insurance scheme, said the Minister of Forests (Mr Gerard) speaking on the Farm Forestry Bill, which authorises loans by the Government for establishment and maintenance of farm woodlots. Sir Eruera Tirikatene (Opposition, Southern Maori) said the Opposition was prepared to lend its aid to extend tree-planting “and secure ourselves against a tyranny of erosion." Plans For Planes If the R.N.Z.A.F. bought Hercules aircraft it would not use them in competition with T.E.AL,. or any other international airline, said the Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre). He added that this did not extend to transporting servicemen or Government employees on postings or duties.

Mr Eyre said he could give no indication of the planes’ utilisation because they were still under consideration. Nor could he give any idea when, and if, a decision might be made to purchase any.