DAMAGE IN RIOTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21165, 23 April 1932, Page 13

DAMAGE IN RIOTS.

QUESTION OF COMPENSATION. CLAIM ON GOVERNMENT. As a result of the extensive damage to Queen Street windows and loss of goods through looting during the disturbance last week, the City Central Progress League made strong representations to the Prime Minister as to the liability of the Government for such damage. No reply has been officially received from the Prime Minister, but he is reported in the press to have made the comment that there was " No sense in the suggestion." This attitude causes deep concern to the league's members, who have sustained such a serious loss and the league proposes to press its claim on their bcJialf very vigorously.

The league states that the loss sustained by a number of shop-keepers at this critical time of business depression threatens the very existence of many of the smaller shops. The Prime Minister's comment has apparently been made without due consideration of the strong moral claim, apart from any other aspect, that the Auckland business people have under tho especial circumstances. Although apparently no provision is made in the Statute Book for such emergencies as the riot las,t week, the league points out that the English Riot Act of 1886 clearly recognises the right of propertyholders proving damage and loss as the result of riots to such compensation as may be determined by the English police authorities. Under this provision shopkeepers and property-holders suffering frorh riot or civil commotion in the past have been compensated to the extent of tho damage inflicted. Well-known instances of this can be given in the case of tho riots in Glasgow and Birmingham some years ago. The league is strongly urging thai this well-established principle in Britain applies with equal justice to New Zealand, which is governed on the sound basis of equitable English law.