THIRD-PARTY RISK

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 28 September 1933, Page 2

THIRD-PARTY RISK

* —\ — ■ ACT FULETLLINjG OBJECT SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS “It is considered that the method of settling claims is giving general satisfaction and the available evidence supports this,” said the Minister of Transport, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, when replying to a question asked by Mr O. L. Carr (Lab., Timaru) in the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon. Mr Carr had said that there was growing dissatisfaction with the administration of third-party risk legislation, under which very few cases were decided in favour of the third party, and he invited the Minister to con sides 1 the desirability of tightening up the provisions of the Act. It was disclosed by Mr Coates that during the period between the coming into operation of the Act and December 31, 1932, motorists paid premiums amounting to £720,300, of which sum £561,014, or 78 per cent., had been involved in the settlement of claims and the estimated liability in respect of outstanding claims. “These figures,’ the Minister added, “show that the Act is fulfilling its object, namely, to provide a fund whereby third parties injured through the negligence of motorists may receive compensation. The present system provides for the settling of claims between the interested parties and the insurance companies,'with recourse to the court when, agreement- cannot he arrived at.”