NEW ZEALAND'S FIRE LOSS.

Mataura Ensign, 22 April 1913, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND'S FIRE LOSS.

ABOUT A WORLD'S KKCORD. PEK UNITED PRKSB ASSOCIATION \YKLLI\(,TO\. A|» il 'J:'. New Zealand''- lire loss r-sie v. as referred to by tiie president ei th"C!ia.aber of Conimeree in-day. He said tinsthe losses had amounted ;o ':■',:,()<),'.',") in the past eight years. The ainouiH per head last year was 12s Id. which was about a world's record, against 10'; 2d for the United States and Is id U\r Europe. Wooden buildings must be largely l'esponsible for the heavy los;;. but many of the fires occurred in the best risks and blocks. Over-wisuram e might be a contributory cause, and w :::■■. one to a certain e\tent in the h-i'id. of the comp:>'?i'-s, lo n pay. thou"'; insurance was largely a matter <;!' i ; -«a:d faith on the nart of :!:c in.- i:red. a-.d instwanee companies could not ah. ays he blamed in cases of ovcr-ix-uranc:-' "The moral hazard in Xew Z";)la:i.l." he added, "may not he low, but the inducements to c.'i've ■:-■)■:: should he avoided. The direct monetary loss to the Dominion is so severe that it behoves all interested to find a remedy. The most practicable one appears to be the compulsory holding of an iw(iiiry after every fire."