INSURANCE MATTERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7366, 18 January 1902, Page 2

INSURANCE MATTERS.

A DEPUTATION TO GO TO

WELLINGTON.

A public meeting, convened by the Chamber of Commerce, was held on Friday evening do appoint two delegates to attend the Conference of the Fire Underwriters' Association, with the object of urging the claims of Hawera to better treatment in the matter of insurance premiums. Mr H. Halliwell, President of the Chamber of Commerce, was in the chair.

', The Chairman said the Conference was to be held on the sth February next. It was desirable that Hawera should be represented, and an endeavor made to get a reasonable reduction. He referred to the recent annual meeting of the New Zealand Insurance Company, which,^f or the year, paid a dividend of 18$ per cent;. At that meeting it was stated that the question of reduction would come beforo the Conference.

In reply to Mr Nicholas, Mr Robbins said the Chamber had got together some useful comparative information, which the New Plymouth branch of the Underwriters' Association thought so strong that they were surprised a reduction had not been made. Hawera had been placed in the same position it was in before the water supply system, but that was not enough. The water system had proved very efficient in the cases of fires recently. Mr Simpson and others had acquainted themselves with the facts, and were favorable to Hawera claims. At a function in Wanganui, at which the councillors and leading citizens were present, Mr Cummins, Captain of the Fire Brigade, stated that in summer the pressure of water in Wanganui was only about 451b to the inch, while we had 951b, and, in caso of emergency, 1051b. Further, we were in a better position as regarded party walls than Waaganui was,-- yet Wanganui's rate of premium was lower than ours.

Mr Bobbins moved, That Messrs Robbins and J. Hardley be a deputation to the Fire Underwriters' Conference. Those gentlemen had been a delegation to New Plymouth, had done their work well, and he did not think a better deputation could be got.

Mr Nicholas seconded the motion, which was carried.

The question of the Chamber being represented at a Conference of Chambers of Commerce to be held in Wellington was discussed, and it was understood that if the Conference was held when the delegates to the Fire Underwriters' Association were in Wellington they would attend.

The Waimate Horticultural Society wrote asking the Chamber's assistance in getting the Hawera half-holiday changed from the 26th to Friday, the 28th February, the occasion of the Society's show.

Mr Bobbins moved, That the townspeople be recommended to observe the 28th as the half-holiday, and if there were no local fixtures on that day, the Mayor could take the feeling of the public as an indication, and proclaim Friday, 28th, the half-holiday. He thought an association like the Waimate Horticultural Society should be helped as much as possible.

In reply to Mr Tait, the Chairman said there were some funds in hand to pay the expenses of the delegates' trip to Wellington. If there was not enough a further sum could be raised.

Mr J. E. Wilson thought the deputation should endeavour to get a refund on the premiums paid between the rise and the reduction.

The Chairman said he understood that was one of the objects of the deputation.

Mr Sargent said he had it from one of the agents that there was no chance of refunds.

In reply to Mr Nicholas, the Chairman said the Committee had a great amount of information to lay before the Conference.

Mr Bobbins apologised for the absence of Mr Wrigley. The meeting adjourned.