COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 16628, 10 January 1918, Page 1

COMMERCIAL.

AIR RAID INSURANCE. In reply to a question regarding State' insurance against air raid damage, the Chancellor of the Exchequer made tha following statement in the-House of Commons : “A scheme has been prepared for B’Ung. owners of property not exceeding ±/000 m value compensation for damage done by air raids and bombardment without payment of any premium. OviMiers of property exceeding £ISOO in value would be compensated up to £SOO without payment of premium, provided that all value m excess of £SOO was insured under the Government insurance scheme. The new scheme would take effect as from September 1, It would be administered by a committee, and would be worked in close connection witli the Government insurance scheme, which was under the superintendence of the Board of Trade. In no circumstances will a refund of premium be made in respect to any insurance that may have been effected with the Government.'’ - TIN PLATE SUPPLIES. The Minister in Charge of Munitions and Supplies, interviewed at Wellington with regard to supplies of tin plate, stated that the High Commissioner recently cabled stating that he had been able to arrange for what might be regarded as ' satisfactory supplies under war conditions , use in the Dominion. The position with regard to supplies in the United Kingdom was that the Ministry of Munitions there had set up a committee for the purpose allocating supplies, the different Dominions being rationed with so much for each. The High Commissioner advised that_ approximately 2,658 tons of tin plate will probably be made available for shipment to the Dominion during January-June, 1918. It is proposed to allot this quantity in accordance with a schedule showing Now Zealand’s full requirements, which was prepared in September last and forwarded to London by the Minister s department. The Minister stated that, aa far as he could judge, the quantity allotted to New Zealand would meet the full requirements of the Dominion for most essential,purposes. However, in the event of reduced supplies being available after June, the question of giving preference to certain essential tra<les ( sucli as meat, milk, fish, fruit, etc., would have to be given consideration. As regards black plate steel sheets and steel plates generally, Mr Myers stated that from past advices’ it would appear that the question of. New Zealand’s i(% quirements is now under consideration in London. Upon receipt of. advice as to tha result, the Minister will give further p,irticnlars. _ His advice goes to indicate that the Ministry of Munitions. is endeavoring to niake available the moderate quantities which are required for essential and national purposes.