POLITICAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1928, Page 1

POLITICAL.

THIRD PARTY RISK

AVELLINGTON, July 11

A hint that third party motor insurance, which Parliament will be asked this session to make compulsory, will not be made a State monopoly, Was given in the House of Representatives to-day. In the course of an attack cn the principle of what was described as unfair competition by the State and municipalities with private enterprise, Air A, R. Harris (AVaiteniuta) referred with some alarm to tbe reference in the Governor-Gener-al’s Speech to the Government’s intention to' introduce legislation making it compulsory for motorists to take out third party insurance risks when renewing their licenses each year. "I sincerely hope that lam wrong, but I seo here another encroachment of the State on the legitimate functions of private enterprise,” Air Harris said. “That is the way I read the speech. I may be wrong, but I certainly think that the private companies should have a share of this business, especially as the Public Trustee is ' holding a ' very large sum of the money as deposits.”

j “Wait until you see the Bill,” injt objected the Minister for Health (Mr ‘Young). “It is quite all right, and you will, he found-supporting: it.’,’ “I am very glad to' have tlie Minister’s assurance.' ’ Mr Harris replied, “I do hope there will be no suggestion of. making the business a State, monopoly.” Dir Harris added that lie agreed with the principle of making the taking out of third party cover, compulsory,. The paragraph in the speech,, to which Mr Harris referred, reads: “In . View of tlie large increase in motor traffic, and tlie number of accidents, wliicli have occurred on tlie road, it has been considered by niv Ministers desirable - that all those who own ears'should at the same time as they pay their annual registration and license fees, pay an additional sum sufficientto provide an insurance against what is known, as the third party risk. The details and the working of this proposal will bo set out,'in: the. Bill, which, will be duly, submitted to you.”