Praise for Small Claims Tribunals

Press, 13 June 1978, Page 14

Praise for Small Claims Tribunals

Parliamentary reporter I

A special tribute to the Small Claims Tribunals is contained in the annual report of the Consumer Council, tabled in Parliament. “The people of Christchurch, New Plymouth, and Rotorua are fortunate,” the report said.

Each of these towns had a Small Claims Tribunal — a special court where a consumer could sue without a! lawyer. They were designed for settling complaints infor- i mally before an impartial' referee. Small plaims were those involving amounts up[ to $5OO. It cost $4 to lodge a| claim.

People who had minor; grievances frequently found the cost of justice beyond reach because the expense in!

taking a case to a normal court could be greater than the amount in dispute, the report said. “We hope the Justice Department will extend the) system quickly to cover consumers in all parts of the' country,” the report said. ) “The experience of our! own national complaints; advisory service confirms the need to extend small claims tribunals to other centres.

“Small claims tribunals are to be found in other 'countries, including all Australian States. We have long advocated their introduction in New Zealand and are very pleased to see the stall 'which has been made.”