LIABLE FOR DAMAGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23830, 9 June 1939, Page 10

LIABLE FOR DAMAGES

PRIVATE TRANSPORT OF TEAMS THE MILTON INCIDENT STATEMENT BY TRANSPORT OFFICER The reported interference by a traffic inspector with the arrangements made to convey a women's hockey team from Milton to Lawrence in two private cars was the subject of a statement yesterday by the district officer of the Transport Department at Dunedin. ' It was reported that the teams were being driven to Lawrence in private cars, and that the first car was on its way when the inspector arrived at Milton. He is said to have gone to the driver of the second car, a clergyman, and refused to allow him to proceed. He is stated to have followed the other car and informed the occupants that he had refused to allow their team mates to proceed by private car. According to the district officer, the inspector, as the result of representations made to him, merely interviewed the drivers of the cars and explained to them that they ran considerable risk of incurring a heavy liability in the event of an accident they had no insurance over the' passengers they carried. The driver of one car said that he was carrying the players because they could not hire a vehicle. The inspector pointed out that there were taxis available at that moment. He made no attempt to prevent the cars from continuing their journey, but the drivers took it on themselves to say that they would not go in view of the fact that they would be liable in the event of an accident, and that vehicles for hire, were available.