LAW REFORM BILL

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 22, 20 October 1944, Page 6

LAW REFORM BILL

Frustrated Contracts DAMAGES FOR SHOCK

Three measures dealing with legal technicalities —the Administration Amendment Bill, Frustrated Contracts Bill and Law Reform Bill—were introduced in the House yesterday. All of them were read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

The Administration Amendment Bill, which is to come into force on January 1 next, deals with power of. sale on intestacy and succession to real and personal .property in cases of an intestacy. For the purpose of the Bill the relationship of a mother to her illegitimate child and of an illegitimate child to its mother is deemed to be a legitimate relationship whether the child is" a legitimated person .or not.

A measure of four clauses, the Frustrated Contracts Bill, provides for the adjustment of the rights and liabilities of parties to frustrated contracts. The Bill is to apply to contracts whether made before or after -the commencement of the Bill if the time of discharge of the contract is on or after November 1, 1944. The Bill is not to apply to contracts of insurance other than to frustrated conrracts containing an obligation to insure. nor will it apply to contracts for the 'sale or delivery of specific goods where the contract is frustrated by reason of the fact that the goods have perished. The Law Reform Bill contains seven clauses dealing with miscellaneous subjects. One of them provides that damages may be recovered for injury suffered as a result of shock, and another that an estate of a deceased’person liable to remunerate persons for work done under promise of testamentary provision. The Bill 'also provides that a will made in contemplation of marriage shall not he revoked by the solemnization of the marriage contemplated. However, this provision will only apply to such wills made after the passing of the Bill.