HOSPITAL BUILDINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 68, 21 March 1931, Page 11

HOSPITAL BUILDINGS

EARTHQUAKE INSURANCE

The Dannevirke Hospital Board, aftor a, discussion as to whether the local hospital should be insured against earthquake risk, has made a proposal that the Government should be asked , to make special provision in regard to hospitals. ■ The matter came up following a report from the Mnaneo Committee which advised: " Haying considered the matter of earthquake insuraneo referred to it by the board, and in view of the increased premium, now charged cm brick buildings, viz., 15 per cent., decided to refer the matter back to the board for decision." The chairman (Mr. L. Stein) said that if the board decided to take out an insurance policy against earthquakel risk, it would involve the board in a heavy expenditure. Tho board had either to insure now or never. Tho board should decide tliat day whether it would take out an earthquake insurance risk or not. Members differed in opinion whether tho heavy cost was warranted in view of the probability of a long period of immunity from'earthquake shocks. Tho chairman said that he thought that as the Government had an interest in the hospital buildings of tho Dominion it should, consider some uuiyersal scheme of providing earthquake insurance for boards. They were only a small boar,d, but he thought it would be a good thing if they were to ask the Hospital Boards' Association whether the Government intended to bring forward a Dominion sehemc. A member pointed out that the ratepayers in the Napier Hospital Board's district were not in a positon to restore tho damage to the property of that board, which would probably have to be borne by the Government. After further discussion the board adopted the following resolution: "That as the Government provide by way ot subsidy a large amount of tho premium for insurance this board urges the bovcvnmont to bring forward a scheme through the State Tiro Office fortho insurance of hospital board buildings in the Dominion against earthquake." It was also decided to communicate with the Hospital Boards' Association on tho matter.