INSURANCE RATES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 29, 4 February 1908, Page 8

INSURANCE RATES.

SUGGESTED INCREASE The Wairarapa Age is the authority for tho statement that the fire insurance companies throughout the Dominion have decided to increase rates for insurance of all classes of risk, and that "there is good reason to believfe that tha StateFjro Insurance Department is prepared to raise its rates in, accordance with the increase proposed by the private companies." Enquiries made in authoritative quarters this morning failed to elicit confirmation of the Wairarapa paper's statement, bnt it was generally admitted by several managers of .private companies that tho rates were- much too low to be profitable, or even safely remunerative, considering the heavy risks of big fires in any on© of the four centres of the Dominipit. The priyate rates were cut low in expectation that the State was - going to cut lower. This has hot been the case up to the present. The recent bush fires have caused tihe year to open inauspiciously for all offices, and as a consequence the utmost caution, more so than usual in f.ict, is being exercised in taking risks of every description. The general manager of the State Fire office (Mr. Brindle) has received no information from the Government of any lise of rates, so far as his office 'is concerned. STATEMENT SAID TO BE PREMATURE. [By I'elegbaph.— Special to The Tost.] DUNEDIN, This Day. Local representatives when interviewed say that the statement that the fire insurance companies had practically decided to increase tho rates in connection with all classes of risks was premature, though they admit the step cannot be long delayed. One manager stated that for the first time during the sixty years his company had bren doing business in the Dominion, the balance-sheets had shown a debit for the past two years. Another manager expressed the opinion that the State Department was now beginning to feel its loss, and was anxiously .vaiting for the premiums to be increased. Any one who has doubts about the efficacy of goats as destroyers of blackberry blushes should visit the Ktock re-serve near the Pelorus Bridge (says the Guardian). A couple of years ago the road was fringed with dense patches of the plant, but the Stock Department fenced in the whole area and placed about forty goats within it. At the pressnfc time there is not a vestige of blackberry, and luxuriant gr^ss has taken its place. On the road outside the fence a fine crop of blackberry is springing up. An attempt was made yesterday by Sir J. G. Ward to have a wireless message sent to Mr. Deajun, Prime Minister of Australia, but \v4s not successful as tho warship Pioneer, which despatched the message, from Wellington, could not establish communication with the flagship Powerful, now on her way to Sydney. The intention was that tho Powerful, when about half-way across, should re-transmit the message to Melbourne. The quarterly conference of Wellington Primitive Methodist Sunday School teachers was held last evening. Tho members assembled at the Webb-street Schoolroom, and after tea tho business of the annual meeting was transacted. The following officers were fleeted for 1900 : —President, Mr. E. C. Feltham ; vice-presidents, Rev. B. Metson and Mr. E. Nowhum ; secretary, Mr. J. Cable. Tho conference adjourned to the infant room at the Wesley f Sunday School, and spent an interesting and instructive evening. An excellent address on Infant Class Methods was given by Mr. G. Tiller, superintendent of the Wesley Infant Department, and this was followed by the demonstration by means of blackboard and sand table of two model lessons. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr.. Tiller for hjfi demonstration, ' • ■ • "*• -~ '- ~ ■•..