LAG IN LEGISLATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22422, 17 November 1934, Page 14

LAG IN LEGISLATION

“MILES BEHIND ENGLAND” DELAY IN AMENDING STATUTES (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 16. A statement that New Zealand was miles behind England in some of its legislation was made during the hearing of a case in the Wellington Supreme Court to-day. The question under discussion at the time was whether the right at common law to claim damages was available to an apprentice whose contract was incorporated in statutory terms and remedies, and it was pointed out that in a previous case the Full Court, in dealing with apprentices, had held that an apprentice was limited by the Apprenticeship Act to the remedies defined thereby because that Act and its amendments formed a complete code governing apprentice matters. It was argued by counsel for the defendants that all possible contingencies were meant to be covered by the 1923 Act, and that if any further contingencies arose they were met by amendments. “We are miles behind England in legislation which you would think would be altered here,” said Mr Justice Rood. “For instance, the protection of'miners working in n coal mine. We arc miles behind England in that attention has been drawn to it, but no alteration has been made.”