WASTAGE BY FIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 October 1928, Page 6

WASTAGE BY FIRE

OVER' £1,000,000 IN TWO YEARS

DOMINION’S BAD REPUTATION

AUCKLAND, Oct. 25

“Wastage by fire in this Dominion has reached enormous proportions. Both in 1926 and 1927 the value of property destroyed by fire in New Zealand, and pqid for by insurance companies, was well above £1,000,CO0,” said Air* V., J. Lamer, at the annual meeting of the South British Insurance Company, this morning. “Houses do not catch .fire of. their own accord,” lie said. “Some hazard has to be introduced, and this can be done unwittingly, carelessly, or deliberately. Of deliberate fire raising one is forced to the conclusion that there has been ah. increase. Incendiarism is most , difficult to prove, but where there is the slightest evidence of it it is imperative that an exhaustive investigation be made before a claim is admitted. Of fires due to carelessness, the exercise of a very little care would have avoided many , a loss. Of purely accidental fires, a common cause, too little.isuspected, is a defective chimney. This is generally due,, to bad workmanship with inferior material. Earth or clay 'used for. mortar may involve not merely the destruction of. a house, but loss of life.

“Another cause 'of fires was the electrical agent,” said Mr Lamer. “Properly controlled electricity was as safe as any other form of power or ilium in ant; improperly controlled, nothing was more, insidious or ruthless in, its capacity for destruction. The outward appearance of an installation looked ,go safe that very few considered where, danger. may lurk. How many took the simple precaution of putting up their main switch either when no current is ho}rig -used or when shutting up their house or place of business? Mow many, seeing a lamp losing its brightness, reflected that the explanation might he not that the lamp was wearing out, but that there might he a leakage in the circuit? “If Magisterial enquiries into circumstances of fires were held, useful information might be obtained as to their cause, thus leading to a reduction in number of the outbreaks,” he declared. “Such enquiries, to be of any value, .would',' however, have to be made in a spirit different . from that in which they are now approached. A suggestion of foul play should not he the only ground for holding an enquiry. Unfortunately, unless this is the case, little or no interest is taken in the. proceedings.' Coroners and police, should realise that the main object of an enquiry is not to bring a suspected* criminal to justice, but to endeavour to obtain information that will tend to reduce this wastage of the national substance. Excessive insurance is linked up with this subject; it is. ;a. -difficulty with which insurance companies have constantly-to contend. Although building values fall, it is often with the utmost difficulty that a reduction of cover can be obtained. The fact that New, Zealand has.earned a reputation for fire wastage that amounts to a scandal is the concern of every responsible citi/zn of the Dominion.”