INDEMNITY BILL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16722, 24 April 1920, Page 3

INDEMNITY BILL.

TO SAVE COUNTLESS MILLIONS. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received April 24, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON. April 23. The Government has introduced an Indemnity Bill restricting legal proceedings on account of the- Government’s acts under war proclamations, etc. It is estimated that if the Government is compelled to pay the artificial market price for goods and services during the war period, instead of on the basis of cost plus a reasonable profit, on which payment was made as a rule, the additional cost will amount to about 700 millions. Tho Government has already settled shipping claims based on the Blue Boole rales amounting to 331 millions. A number of actions have been instituted, contesting the legality of tho Blue Book rates. If the claims are uphold the Government will bo liable for an extra 300 to 400 millions. The present Bill aims at establishing .ho validity of tho Blue Book ra .s and similar payments for munition contracts, requisitioned buildings, ctr.^ The Bill extends over the whole Enipire, except the self-Govcrning Dominions, which pass their own measures. —Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.