QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11863, 29 May 1909, Page 5

QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY.

(Per Press Association.) '-■■■-' WELLINGTON, this day. ,/■ A. motorinan named Barton, who received serious, injuries some time ago, ovnng to the car he was driving colliding with a State coal waggon, failed to receive compensation from the Government, it being proved in o>url that a State coal Waggon was riot a public work, 'or some other such legal technicality. A deputation from the' Welling- j ten City Council, headed by the, Mayor, Dr. A. K. 'Newman, waited on Sir Joseph Ward and brought .the natter under his notice. Dr. Newnian said' it was a very undesirable state of things that the motorman could get no redress from the Government' owing to the state of the law. '< Ho thought the Government should riot shelter itself behind Such. a phm, but be on \the same level in 1 such cases as private' individuals. , ' Sir Joseph Ward said h© remembered the ease. Tho decisiori was subject to the law of the case. He. understood that the man had- redress; against the Corporation; to the amount available' undor the Workers' Cqnipensatiori Act. He 'was advised that that was so' The Mayor: That is not so. Sir Joseph /Ward said he could, assure the deputation that thai was so, and tho man should apply land get it. The Government was clearly advised that the Corporation Was liable under the Workers' Compenisation Act., .Dr. Newman wanted to know if that meant that the Government would get out of all liability!. The Prime Minister said he was net prepared to speak upon the broad question as to whether the. State should be in the same position a$ a private employer. Nine people out of ten made such ridiculously high claim's when suing the Government, chums of such an amount tliat they would' never be put before a;, private individual. There was another p^lrit, however, which waritV ed. consideration, 'and that was in regard to claims arising out of circuhistances when tlie Govei nirient was engaged ii* a commercial pursuit. There was a great deal to be saidi in.- -favor 'of the Government in such cases being put in the same position as * private employer. There had to bo some saicguard for tlio Govern - ment. He, however, said that was, laid down, by all Governments. At all eveiiti, the representations of tho deputation would be considered. A hasty opinion coirldi not be arrived at. He did not think that ■< the n?an Referred tb should' not havo redress somewhere, but as., previously stati^d,' lie^lukr been' .advised in regard to the claim the riiail had^ on the Corporation, v Tho Mayor t. But that does] not relieve t ha Corporation. r.