BOYS AND SPORT

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21052, 2 March 1940, Page 9

BOYS AND SPORT

| QUESTION OF INJURY I j LIABILITY OF MASTER I ! j SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSION The possibility of a charge of negligence being brought against a ! master as a result of injury to a boy taking part in the sporting activities of the school, was referred to by Mr H. D. iait, headmaster of the Hamilton High School, at a meeting of the Board of Governors yesterday. Mr Tait was referring particularly to cricket and he considered that a large number of boys playing in a restricted area introduced considerable risk of injury. There seemed a strong possibility that if a boy were , struck by a flying ball a charge of negligence might be brought against I the master in charge. To a critic it might certainly be considered negligent on the part of a master to permit play in such crowded conditions. Even if a charge were un- | successful the mere defence of the j case would be costly and repugnant I to the master. j Cases of such a thing might be | rare, said Mr Tait, and the probI ability of one being brought Vfery j slight, yet the position was that it was the master who would have to ' stand the expenses. It. was hardly j fair that such should be so. The I matter had been brought into cerj tain prominence lately from a rei ported case in England where j damages were awarded against a | master though the court admitted that the master was not negligent in the common sense of the term. Mr Tait said an expression of opinion : from the board regarding the school’s liability in cases of injury to pupils j under those circumstances, would be ; welcome. j “Are you asking if the board would accept liability,” asked Mr C. L. Mac Diarmid, the chairman. “I don’t think for a moment that the master concerned would not be re-im-j bursed.” Mr J. E. Tidd suggested that the ! board should have some insurance against such risk. i “I don’t think there is any more ! risk here than elsewhere,” said Mr F. A. de la Mare. “If we don’t take risks games are not worth playing. | But we should see that no undue risk lis taken. It is a matter for inquiry.” It was decided to refer the matter to the board’s solicitors.