INJURIES AT CRICKET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23595, 2 March 1940, Page 10

INJURIES AT CRICKET

LIABILITY OF MASTERS HAMILTON DISCUSSION ACCIDENTS IN SCHOOL GAMES [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Friday The possibility of a master in charge of a game of school cricket being sued for damages if one of the boy players was injured was mentioned by Mr. H. D. 'fait, headmaster of the Hamilton High School, at a meeting of the school board of governors to-day. Mr. Tait asked what would be the attitude of the board if such an accident occurred. "There seems to be a strong possibility that if a boy was struck by a flying ball a charge of negligence might be brought against the master in charge," said Mr. Tait. "Even if a charge was unsuccessful, the mere defence of the case would be costly and repjignant to the master. Cases of this sort may be rare, and the probability of an action being brought is slight, but the position is that it would be the master who would have to stand the expense, and it is hardly fair that this should be so." Mr. Tait said the matter had been brought to certain prominence recently from a reported case in England, where damages were awarded against the master, although the Court admitted that the master concerned was not negligent in the common sense of the term. "If such a case occurred, obviously the board would reimburse the master," said the chairman, Mr. C. L. MacDiarmid. It was decided to refer the rftatter to the board's solicitors.