DESTROYING CARS BY FIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 22 November 1928, Page 9

DESTROYING CARS BY FIRE

THREE GANHS OPERATING !N AUCKLAND

INSURANCE A MUSTEK'S STATKM RN,T

d'.y Tolesraiih—Special to "The Mail")

AUCKLAND, This Day

I'u lay knowledge I horn are lliroc

gangs ill work in Auckland destroying rur.s liv lire for a considoration." This

assertion, astounding (hough ii appears, was made in deep seriousness by an insurance adjuster who handles a- ureal deal of motor car losses by five in Alleleliiml province. Figures show tbat the percentage, of ears burned ill Auckland is ihe highest in the world. "Cannot Von gel at 'he gang?" (he man v, as asked. 'AVe know who they are, and we know (hoy are operating,"' lie replied ; "but we'e aunol bring iinv proof Ui inoriminale them." work': ' "Anything From £lO lo £25 a car. Fri i|llelillv. of course, it depends upon the success of the owner in his negotiations with the insurance company. Over 200 cars are Inst by lire in Auckland urovinco in a vear.' Chief among the causes are backfires in lee engine, short circuits in the. electrical mechanism, and unknown reason-:, and it is estimated that 60 ncr cent, of the outbreaks are due [o "faulty electrical equipment, 25 nor cent, to gross carelessness, and 10 per rent, of the remaining 15 per cent, to deliberate incendiarism.