FIRE BRIGADES AND INSURANCE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2240, 23 December 1898, Page 7

FIRE BRIGADES AND INSURANCE.

(TO THE EDIToK I. W. SI.)

Sit:—Ai the meeting which «aa '•• Id fo iile pc.|pi;S,'- o! inllklUg hi irtlgi lOC .ts 1 receive the delegates from vai 10:1s fi.. iirigadea thloUi.hn.lt New Zealau I, I nolletiom yiur lepo.t that'the chairman, M Geisow, entertained a subject that should not he lost sight of, namely—Can the dele gates help us to obtain justice at the bands of the insurance companies doing hush ess in Queeustowu ? We have a water supply and sufficient appliances to cope with any tire that may occur, ai.d our brigade has shown o'i more than one occasion that it knows how to use them. Vet the insurance companies persist iu keeping ns on a tariff which is even worse than if we had no water supply or brigade in the place, as we have water rates to pay aa well. Mr Geisow deserves the thanks of the long suffering house-owneis for bringing th< matter forward ; hut tliere are other insurance agents in Queen:-town rcptesent.'U various other companies besides those thaMr Geisow represents. Now, Sir, we would like to hear from tin m as to whether thiy are willing to recommend their companies t» do us justice in this matter, it would surprise some to know that propelty in Queentown '8 charged about five tiims as much asimilai pr< iu Dunedin. Is it the policy of the insmance companies to bleed country towns so that they may be in a position to make, concessions to insurers in the cities? I am led to surmise this by the trend of financial aH'ailS in Neiv Zealand. What did we rind when the affairs of some of our banks came to be washed cut? Why, sir, the cities got all the accommodation while we in the country towns were kept on ver\ short " rations ;" and in politics are we not at the present tune practically luled by the city mobs and most of the laws passed latih by our most " Literal" Government for their henelii ?

Now, Sir, I humbly piopose in this Insurance question that all agetts doing business iu Queeiistown join in making a ieq;iest to their respective companies to consider our position ; also that a motion be passed at the meeting of Fire Brigade delegates drawing the attention of heads of insurance companies to the injustice we are suffering under. Our worthy borough council perhaps could see their way to take the matter iu hand and with a Saiut at thtii head may do much. And last but not least, Sir, I think you should use your able pen in getting our snug little town put on a footing wiih regard to insurance rates that, with our grand water supply, our smart fire brigade and our vast experience in coping with fireß, we are justly entitled to, I am a Ii ng suffer ng

Ratepayer and Insurer. Queeustowu, 20th Dec. 1898.