EXPECTATION OF LIFE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 12

EXPECTATION OF LIFE

LEGAL CLAIMS FOR LOSS BILL TO DEAL WITH POSITION [BY TEI.EGBAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Although a bill has apparently been drafted by the Attorney-General, the Hon. H. G. 11. Mason, to deal with the situation that has arisen over claims being made for the loss of expectation of life, it is not yet known whether legislation will be brought down in the coming session of Parliament. Mr. Mason said to-day that the matter rested with the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, who had charge of the legislative programme. Section 3 (1) of the Law Reform Act, in abolishing the principle that a personal action ceases with the death of a person except in regard to three special causes of action, provides that on the death of any person all causes of action subsisting against or vested m him shall survive against or as the case may be for the benefit of his estate. The New Zealand Law Journal stated recently that it had been informed last October that the AttorneyGeneral proposed introducing an amendment and that a bill had already been drafted. Mr. Mason said that the session had been adjourned for only one purpose —for the consideration of the national superannuation scheme, and what other work would be done was not for him to say. 'The Prime Minister is in charge of the Order Paper, and it is not for me to say what will be placed on it for consideration," he added.