WAR RISKS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 23 October 1914, Page 5

WAR RISKS.

WELLINGTON, Oct. 22. In the House of Representatives this afternoon .the Premier read a, lengthy statement to the House on the subject of war risks, in which the Imperial authorities agreed to the New Zealand Government acting as agents to arrange risks.

Sir Joseph Ward said, that was what ought to have been done at first. Wellestablished firms had all along been in a position to cable Home and get insurances effected, but the ordinary man, who had, no agents in London, could not get cover. The trouble was. that.there was no place in the Dominion where risks could be taken out.

The Premier said such was the case, because the Imperial authorities would not permit it. That was why the'Government had passed special legislation covering each hull up to £10,000, but the new arrangement was a much better one, and he hoped it would be found satisfactory.

Mr Myers pointed out that the proposal of the British Government only applied to cargoes in hulls injured in the War Risks Office. What would happen in the case of. a hull not so insured ? The Premier: The risk will not be accepted. ; '_■ -. Mr Russell suggested that it would be a great convenience if chief branches of the State Fire Insurance Office could accept applications for eoveiv instead of all applications having to be sent in to the head office1 at Wellington. The Premier replied that that was being done. .