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Story: Law

A 1918 claim for damages

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A 1918 claim for damages

Before the introduction of an accident compensation scheme in 1974, people who were accidentally injured had to claim damages through the courts. This 1918 press report outlines such a case. The statutory accident compensation scheme was a major legal reform that was unique to New Zealand.

Using this item

National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past

Reference: Wairarapa Daily Times, 31 July 1918, p. 5

Permission of the National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Geoffrey Palmer, Law – Legal innovation, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/37019/a-1918-claim-for-damages (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Geoffrey Palmer, published 12 June 2012, updated 1 October 2016.