I move the elimination of paragraph (a) in sub-section 1.
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. - DAIL IN COMMITTEE.
SECTION 1.
The Damage to Property (Compensation) Act, 1923 (No. 15 of 1923 hereinafter called the Principal Act) shall be and is hereby amended as follows, that is to say:—
(1) the words and figures "12th day of May 1923" shall be substituted for the words and figures "20th day of March 1923" where the same occur in the following sections, sub-sections or paragraphs of the Principal Act, that is to say:—
(a) in sub-section (6) of Section 14,
(b) in clause (c) of sub-section (9) of Section 15,
(c) in sub-section (10) of Section 15,
(d) in Section 16,
(e) in sub-section (5) of Section 17; and
(2) the words "four" shall be substituted for the word "three" where the same occurs in the following sections and sub-sections of the Principal Act, that is to say:—
(a) in sub-section (1) of Section 2,
(b) in Section 3,
(c) in sub-section (1) of Section 15.
This paragraph deals with damage to roads and concerns the Road Board Fund and is immaterial. It is simply saying that the damage that has occurred during the period 20th March to 12th May shall be met out of the Road Board Fund. It does not make very much matter. It will be a matter for the local authorities generally and simply one of accountancy with the Ministry of Local Government as to how it will be arranged.
Amendment put and agreed to.
I beg to move: That sub-head (e) in sub-section 1 be eliminated.
Persons who have sustained personal injuries between March 20th and May 12th are held to have a technical right as against the local authorities. I do not know if it is dealt with satisfactorily in this Bill, but if not we would undertake to amend it subsequently. We mean to give persons so injured the same advantages as are at present enjoyed by persons who were injured between the 11th July, 1921, and the 20th March, 1923. In essence this means extending the date from the 20th March to the 12th May in respect of persons injured during that particular period. But there is some technicality about the right they have against local authorities during that period, and that may be open to further consideration in an amending Bill if it should be necessary. If any question is raised that in the ordinary way would exempt the hearing of their claims before the Personal Injuries Commission we will raise no objection to it.
Amendment put and agreed to.
Motion made and question put: "That Section 1 as amended stand part of the Bill."
Agreed.
Section 2 put and agreed to.
Question: "That the Bill be entitled `An Act to amend and extend the Damage to Property (Compensation) Act, 1923,' " put and agreed to.