STATE FIRE PREMIUMS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 128, 22 February 1908, Page 6

STATE FIRE PREMIUMS.

: ' ', '', 'V 'l—— ■' ATTORNEY>CENEBAL'S VIEWS. ;: GAMING 'AND' OTHER . MATTERS. • '' ...'(Br TELEGttArri—iiiißs's'association *j ;: .. Christchurchi-February-21.., . Interviewed■; in Cliristch'Urch;: by : i a" reporter, the/"Attorii^ questioned-on the work.of the v Native Lands, Commission.ln. r tlie.'coursot of; his-.remarks he said : ■ -V;■ ...-"The area which willultimately bo .available for 1 European -.fettjemeht •'.Will - approximate two' -million acres; Tvliiph- \vjjl ;boJ ni&rjy. double the whole, area acquired ;by. the- Crown' from European, owners under,the Lands for Settlement Act from' 1894 'Up-.to; the' present. :Tho' surveys are proceeding, and -no ,doubt': before .Parliament meets.'.a" largo''iirea will be available, for application.• :. ; ,r. : /. ■ ,- " ' STATE FIRE PREMIUMS. ' .Asked' whether there-was; >any disposition on'the part of the Government 1 to increase .'tho' State Fire Insurance premiums as a result of the recent severe losses, ;Dr. Findlay said is .a- very difficult . question 'to deal with. The State,-. Firo insurance up to the end of the last'-busihess;:ycar had made a profit, but in the past'it has' been' fortunate in. escaping: sorious losses. .This year it has already; siiiferod some- considerable losses, but the question of dealing-with; tlia rates /will have to be held v over ' until l we. .see"; how- tiro presont year .pans I' recognise, that'tho insurance companies' who? have r to • pay prof bably about £30,000.; as contributions' under the Fire Brigades "ActVof last" yea V,' and who have ha'd severe losses through may find it absolutely" ■ necessary'/. to '' increase' their rates." V'"; I .'-••'," THE GAMING "ACT.' t'i'Beferring- to tho Gaming, ict,-,the -JJinisWr said,:-—^'l, believe.;aduto-i'dff-feronce ' between- tl uyb o 0 kmakcrs and> : .the clubs aro disappearing. -have just-sent-.-mo from' Auckland, a' list of: their objections to the regulations drawn up -by Jne'- recent' - conference,, ibut^as,,;. they only reached; me' last "niglit,. "I havqjnot .ycb had timo;to.Consider- I dan,see ,the chief clubs are : frankly j pndfeavouring,-to ■carry;out.the! any unreasoitaßle , ; hardsliip: :isj fdjUnd! prdssing' ; pn"'.the.,.bbokmdker'p,, 'th'p;/elubs :.£ave';. shown';, a. 'willingness .io'make':.conteisionßj>;-As, to ;t.ne general' operation qf/;the</Acf>,';- there 'is • n.tj' douit at all from 'tlie' police'reports-.'we have rdceived- that - street f betting,"; tote.- betting, 'betting rat sports; aij3<'&U;%bs r <Ail&' .more ;ob-' forms,of enorreduced..' v/• "Jy. "^i;/I A,'!/;'' r';,'"' ■ KING'S COUNSEL. . ■ .-'The-.; Minister ' was / asked, iwhether jt.''.was intended to .Coun--sijl in the .ljear.futu.ro,'-..0r.'t0 .fill' the-vacahcy-in Ghristdhiirch: caused vby-.-the . death of .Mr. ; T.' -L- Joynt. ~*~ . ~,1 ' , '.'There havd ; ,b(H3n''sbverai''applicatidns since the last Findlay,..in:reply, "but thd-'GhiefvJustidd his expressed the. opinion,Y.without.vreflecting on the. suitability of the .Applicants, .that, no further appointments ; 'shouldv : be;- riia.de 'J for some time. To'create/fresh'.K.G.'s so soon after '' tho 'original 'appointments hadr been. maido .was," 'in'-,'tho ;,Ciiief ':'. Jus%e v s'''opinibn',, neither'.expedient practico." . /.. / - /;/V CIVIL SERVICE SUPERANNUATION., scheme.'promises' to'-^vorjc-'.well. 'an' exceedingly; 'large.' niimhoiv' of ''• applications', were "in-,: and •as /'applications could. be',,sent in' until that practically,; the '•MrhbjS-UTO 6 'vantage-' of,' it';;-" ' • TOa/iegulatidns had'.'bepn settled, .-'.and' :ihe',v,Bp'ard,. of. which.' he - was cliairman,. woiild j meet' on his return i'o.AVellington next week; r, :v ■' .' ' :