STEAM FIRE ENGINE.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 548, 28 June 1879, Page 2

STEAM FIRE ENGINE.

? TO THB BDITOR OP THB XYBNIttG FOaTt Sib— l notice that at the discussion on the matter of the steam-fire engine at the Council last night, the usual erroneous view of Insurance Companies' duties was takon. Councillor Fisher and others need to be informed that it is not the Companies' business to provide all sorts of safeguards against the spread of fire, resulting in, on the one hand, a great reduction of rates, and on the other hand, a feeling of property holders that they can afford not to insure because brigades and water supply are thoroughly reliable. I would state that an Insurance office is not a benevolent institution, designed by a few philanthropic directors to present all and sundry with thousand pound cheques, la return for a few formalities, ending in the transfer of a few shillings to their till. Its business is to make enquiries as to the chances of a fire occurring anywhere, the construction of the buildings, the width of the streets, the water supply, the efficiency of fire brigade and appliances, and, on consideration of those facto, to ask a rate of premium that will componaato them for the risk they run. If Fire Insurance Companies are to be taxed for fire prevention purposes, marine Underwriters may as legitimately be levied upon for the cost of buoys and lighthouses to prevent ships going ashore, and the Wellington medical profession be charged with the cost of covering Kent Terrace drain. As to the proposal for a steam fire engine, I may point out that its use will be to protect the heart of the town where the warehouses are congregated, and vast values of goods are collected with very inadequate insurance ; that it will never be required in tho outskirts where the ordinary pressure of water will suffice to quell any fire, that the merchandise referred to pay no municipal rates, and therefore contributes nothing at present to the cost of fire-prevention ; that it is unfair to call on &k. insurance offices, who " live by their lossos," the prudent householders in the scattered portions of the town, and the owners of unoccupied allotments paying city rates, to cash up heavily to prevent the destruction of uninsured and non-rat«paying property. Let us suppose that tho insurance companies burden themselves with the cost of a steam engine; they will cliargo increased rates of premium to cover the expense, and the provident insurer will have to pay for the protection of uninsured property. To conclude, I beg respectfully to suggest to the Council and citizens that the water supply has proved a delusion. The brigades are under divided authority and without • supreme head, their appliances are antiquated and rotten, and the building regulations art systematically evaded. In the face of these facts, and considering that any night a fire may sweep the entire reclaimed land, the insurance agents may review the position and either declino to take risks so thoroughly unprotected, or else charge premiums which will compensate them for the risk run, unless the Council quickly stirs itself for the protection of property against fire. I am, &c, Ihburancb Agbnt.