NEARING THE LIMIT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 13, 15 January 1918, Page 7

NEARING THE LIMIT.

INSURANCES ON PRODUCE. ' COVERS FOR COOL. STORAGE. (By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, Momlay. A rather interesting position in regard to insurance was revealed during to-day's sittulg of the l'hirl Wellington Military Service Board, wnen Mr. C. R. C, Robiesoii, general manager uf the

State Fire Insurance Office, sought exemption from military service for Kenneth Burns Bain, branch manager at Taranaki. He said that of the stail of 55 before the war only 19 were left. True thry hnd a larger stall now than beiore the war, but they were mostly

girls untrained. Mr. Robieson added that if the State oflica was not operating fully in the district, the producer would not be able to get cover for his produce in cool stor?, as financial institutions would uot load on produce in cool store.

Captain Baldwin ;military representative): Could not the producer get cover from a private company'/ Do I understand you to say that ? —Private bouses have reached their limit-

Is yours unlimited?—No, hardly unlimited, but we take very largo amounts. The chairman (Mr. W. H. Sefton MoorTiouse) : What kind of goods is it that the producer cßnnot get covered?— Mostly produce in cold storage.

In reply to the chairman, Mr. Bohieson said that the Department has eight branches and 458 agencies throughout the country. lie was of opinion that it would not be possible to train a man to take Mr. Bain's place.

To Captain Baldwin: Private fire insurance companies only insxvred up to a certain amount, and are not prepared to increase their risks. This he knew, and he had every facility foT finding out as the State Office had applied to private &rtas to take a portion of the risks, and had been refused. Producers' certainly cannot get insurance direct iroin private companies. As late as Saturday ho had to cable to London to try and get extra cover which he was unable to get in the Dominion. Kven if the Department offered a larger salary than £380 ■per' annum he did -not think they could get a man in New Zealand'to take the position of branch manager temporarily.

To Mr. M. J. Mack Mr. Robieson replied that his office was unable to take more in certain isolated risks, but business was changing every day. Mr. Mack expressed perplexity. According to Mr. 'Robieson. outside insurance offices- had Teached their limit, and he also said in effect that .the State Office had reached its limit. Therefore it -would seem t6 be. the logical conclusion that a smaller staff could carry on the business.

Mr. A. Q'L. Considine: How long would it take you to train a man to take Mr. Bain's place? Mr. Kobieson: I would not put a man on under ten rears.

Capt.Baldwin: What would you do if he left you?—l would probably be able to replace him by making a permanent appointment.

Mr. Robieson said that the State "Fire Department was keeping open for them the positions of those-,; of its staff who had gone to the war, but they were not getting anything more than their military pay. Mr. Considine taking away the heads of .State Departments.

Captain Baldwin: But, sir, he is not the head of the Department. He is just a branch manager. Branch managers for the State Office were, he added, practically in the same position as branch managers for private firms, and if they were to be exempted it would be hard not to exempt others, running into some hundreds of men.

The chairman intimated that personally he would not be in favour of any distinction being made. Mr. kobieson intimated that the State Office had endeavoured to combine with other offices in the direction of extended limits.

Further hearing of the appeal -was adjourned until January 23.