GOODS ON RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1924, Page 5

GOODS ON RAILWAY.

QUESTION OF LIABILITY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. “That in view of endorsements of consignment notes this conference urges upon the Dominion conference the urgent necessity for the Railway Department agreeing to accept liability in the case of loss or damage to goods loaded by consignors at officered stations,” was one expression of opinion by the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at its annual conference. The position in this connection says the Minister for Railways in a statement now received, te as follows: “In all cases where goods are loaded by consignors the department Accepts no responsibility in respect of the quantity or condition, as it has no opportunity of checking same. Should a consignor desire the department to load and check a charge is made for doing so in the case of certain classes of goods, and to avoid this expense senders often prefer to do their own handling. In such cases it is the practice to endorse on the consignment note in writing the fact that the owners have loaded, thereby defining the department’s liability as regards loss or damage in connection therewith. This endorsement in no way departs from the regulations, which have been in force for many years. The practice of making endorsements of a matter of fact affecting the rights and liabilities of parties is in universal operation in the transport business both by land and by sea throughout the world. It is regretted, therefore, that the department is unable to agree to accept liability in cases of loss or damage to goods loaded by consignors at officered stations and not checked by the department.”