XN000022-1975-10-08 — Page 10

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1975

SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL TO BE SET UP

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A BILL TO ESTABLISH A SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL FOR THE RECOVERY OF DEBTS OF NOT MORE THAN $3,000 WILL BE PUBLISHED THIS WEEK AND INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY AFTERWARDS.

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, DISCLOSED THIS IN HIS SPEECH AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WHEN REVIEWING THE SUCCESS THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL HAD HAD SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT.

+ITS SIMPLE PROCEDURE AND INFORMAL ATMOSPHERE HAVE MADE IT A POPULAR FORUM FOR DEALING WITH WAGE CLAIMS AND CLAIMS FOR SEVERANCE PAY USUALLY FOR RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNTS, HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT FOR SOME TIME THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN STUDYING THE POSSIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A SIMILAR TRIBUNAL FOR THE RECOVERY OF SMALL DEBTS, ARISING FROM CONTRACT OR TORT.

SIR MURRAY NOTED THAT THE MOST VOCIFEROUS DEMAND FOR A SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE AND QUICK-ACTING FORUM CAME FROM THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES OF MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES WHICH EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN RECOVERING CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CO-OWNERS AND OTHERS TOWARDS COMMON COSTS.

HE SAID THAT HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE NEW TRIBUNAL WOULD FILL THIS LONG FELT NEED.

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