DISAPPOINTED PASSENGER

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14143, 15 June 1920, Page 6

DISAPPOINTED PASSENGER

UNION COMPANY SUED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) <J H BISTCHURCH, Monday. A case in which a passenger had been disappointed in not getting the berth he required was heard in the Magistrate ’s Court to-day, when George Lewis Ostler proceeded against- the Union Stemship Company for £ll 8s 9d. Counsel said plaintiff bought three return saloon tickets from Lyttelton to Wellington. He went to Auckland. Because he was away longer than anticipated, he paid an extra five. shillings to have his ticket extended. He also paid a similar sum for a deck cabin, and was claiming for half the cost of the ticket, with £lO damages for breach of contract in that the company had not given him special saloon berthing accommodation. The plaintiff, in hi s evidence, said that instead of.a deck cabin he had to accept accommodation in tlie hold. The defence contended that if plaintiff was not satisfied with the accommodation he was given he should have gone to the proper authorities. Had he- done this, he would have been given the choice of six deck cabins. Ho was given a saloon berth, although it was in what was known as an omnibus cabin. The claim was laid under Section 183 of the Shipping and Seamen 's Act, but, as it was not lodged within the specified time, plaintiff was out of Court. The plaintiff was non-suited, on tlie ground that the claim had been made beyond the time allowed by the Act.