NOT A WAR MEASURE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 86, 8 October 1941, Page 8

NOT A WAR MEASURE

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CRITICISM

"I hope that this Bill will be fought by the commercial community from one end of the country to the other," declared the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce (Mr. R. H. Nimmo) at last night's meeting of the chamber, when criticising the provisions of the War Damages Bill. He urged that the Bill should be brought into operation only when an emergency arose, and expressed his concern as to the ultimate disposal of the fees collected. "If those fees are to be accumulated, will they be refunded after the war?" he asked. \- ■Mr. P. :E. Pattrick said the Bill would come into operation immediately it was passed. It was, suggested that its operations should be postponed until an emergency arose. The value of the property involved was. £500,000,000, and the premium amounted to Is per cent. That meant £250,000 a year. The Bill would establish a fund contributed to only by propertyowners carrying fire-risk. It should be compulsory on all property-owners, added Mr. Pattrick. v Mr. M. S. Hunt said the Government intended it to apply to all motor vehicles that were comprehensively insured. Mr. D. S. N. McCartney said that the underwriters had to place their organisations at the disposal of the Government for the collection of the premiums. "We know no more about the Bill than you do," he said. Mr. G. D. Stewart asked if there was any provision for refunds after the war. Mr. Hunt said the Bill provided that any surplus in the fund would be used to reimburse sufferers from earthquake or flood damage. The president: It is another form of taxation. Mr. J. Carter said it was a question of making it effective when the need arose, and the use that was to be made of any surplus funds. The president contended that it was not a war measure. That part of it was only incidental. Captain S. Holm paid the funds were to be held for a national catastrophe. The president: It is an imposition on a community already staggering under a burden. There is no need to collect a penny until there is evidence of war damage. It was decided to ask the Associated Chambers to make their views known.