TOASTING THE INSURANCE COMPANIES. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 57, 9 March 1905, Page 6

TOASTING THE INSURANCE COMPANIES. TO THE EDITOR.

Si r> — Funny incidents do occur occasionally, but' I have never hemd of anything moro laughable than the circumstance of Mr. Brindley State Fire Insurance Manager) replying at tho annual Fire Brigade dinner last evening to the toast of'" The Intmrunce Companies." 'A tojwst is usually understood to no complimentary, and the person whfr acknowledges it to represent tbos>e toasted, but Mr. Btiudley, ho far from representing the insurance companies, conduda an iudtitution most strongly antagonistic to them. If the Hon. Mr. Seddon were to return tkanks for His M»je»ty'» Opposition he*woald place himself in a Rnuilar. position to Mr. Brindley returning Uianks for tbe-compewjies. This hitter gentleman was appointed* not- to do business on ordinary lines, but to break down the organisation of the fire offices under a mistaken impression that combination is not only unetesirable, but unnecessary, and there was no eecret of this intention. It was ftttfcher said in the House that the State Department would havo in its operations the support of the whole of the. resources of the colony; this in view, 1 assume, that it will bo an expensive undertaking. Tho public generally, however, do not regard this as objectionable, for the jeason that they, during the struggle, each reap a personal advantage from the unduly low premiums. To assume that Mr. Brimlley's knowledge is more reliable tlwn tho united experience of the associated offices is absurd. — Tarn, etc., R. M. SIMPSON, General Manager for N.Z Phcenix Assurance Co., Ltd. Wellington, 9th March, 1905,