DE GROOT CASES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 23, 23 December 1932, Page 2

DE GROOT CASES.

TERMS OF SETTLEMENT. PARTICULARS DISCLOSED. Replying to a question by Mr Lang, the Minister of Justice disclosed in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly last week the terms of settlement of the De Groot actions. “The facts are,” said Mr Martin, “that Captain De Groot brought actions claiming very large damages against Messrs Gosling (formerly Chief Secretary), Childs (Chief Commissioner of Police), and Mackay (Superintendent of Police). This action was defended by the Crown Solicitor in the ordinary way, under instructions from the late Government, and continued under the present Government. “All public interest in the action had disappeared, and an opportunity arose of having it settled. It was manifest to the Crown Law authorities that, if the proceedings were allowed to go to trial, the Crown would be involved in a very large expenditure, which in no circumstances would be recovered. Discussions ensued between the Crown Solicitor and the plaintiff’s solicitor, and an offer of settlement was made on the following basis: “(1) The plaintiff to discontinue his action and execute a release to the Crown and public officers with reference to tire cause of action. “(2) The Government to pay the plaintiff £55 7s, being expenses incurred by him in consequence of his incarceration in the Reception House, and £l3 4s Bd, being bis actual out-of-pocket expenses in the action. The Government to indemnify the plaintiff against the defendants’ costs, which were solely incurred in the Crown Solicitor’s Department. The action was then settled on those terms. “In pursuance of the settlement, the plaintiff filed a notice of discontinuance. The amount paid by the Crown was paid out of the contingency fund provided for such purposes. In these arrangements all the defendants, including Mr Gosling, concurred.