FIRE BRIGADES AND INSURANCE COMPANIES.
[FJiOM THE MELBOURNE "ABGUS."] It is now considerably over a year since we first drew attention to the manifestly unfair nature of tlie arrangement which throws the whole cost of supporting the Melbourne Fire Brigade on the insurance companies. The provision of means for the prompt extinction of fires is a duty which naturally falls upon the public authorities in all civilised communities. Every individual is personally interested in the matter, for even those who have no property at stake have lives which may at any moment depend on the existence of some effective means of suppressing a conflagration. When, then, all are vitally concerned, it is clearly improper to take advantage of the peculiar position occupied by certain companies carrying on business amongst us in order to throw on them the cost of benefits which we all share alike. It may be said, no doubt, as we observed once before, that these companies did not establish, and no not support, the brigade in question from any disinterested or publicspirited motive. "Tlicir object is simply self-protection, and if anyone is beuelited by their exertions and expenditure, it is simply in consequence of the operation of a policy they are constrained to adopt— viz., that of putting out fires in uninsured buildings lest they should spread to others which are covered by their policies." But while this is all very true as far as it goes, it does not justify us in allowing matters to remain on their present inequitable basis. It is as much for the good of the community that tires should be put out as that thieves should be arrested and ruffians restrained, and when this is once admitted, no one can be excused from bearing his fair share of the expense on the ground that lie would rather run the risk than pay. If the man whose house '"''• fl C" s fire were necessarily the onlv snierer, there d.ou 0./.uc sense in allowing liim to determine whether he would take any precautious or not ; but seeing that his carelessness or misfortune may involve others in ruin, it is evident that he has no right to claim any such discretionary power.
It is not nccossary that wo should recapitulate all the steps taken by the companies to secure a redress of their grievances. Suffice it to say that they waited upon the Uovenuneut last year, and submitted a temperate statement of their case for its consideration, i'or twenty years they have protected the city of Melbourne from lire, without any assistance from the State or the civic authorities, and they have spent during that time some £00,000, a. portion of which was expended on the preservation of property with which they were totally unconcerned. * « »
As is well known, anything like practical work has had no chauce of commanding attention at the hands of the new Assembly. In answer, however, to a deputation representing the various fire brigades throughout the colony, Mr. Kerferd lias promised to have a bill prepared and brought into the Upper House at an early date, if a workable system be submitted to the Government, making provision for the creation of a fund out of which to compensate those whose premises may be pulled down for tlie purpose of arresting the progress of a fire. Tlie power to demolish buildings with this object in view is one whioli tlie insurance comimnies are most anxious to obtain, and it is somewhat extraordinary to find one manager confessing that he and his con/riiv.i had not considered tlie matter in all its bearings. " With regard to tlie ipicstion of pulling down houses at a lire to prevent the spread of tlie dames," said Mr. Macredie," they were willing to pay for any property insured, just as if it had been destroyed by lire," but they had not considered how they would deal with the owners of demolished buildings not covered by insurance. On this point their ideas are clearlv in a very crude state indeed, for it is evident that their own proposal is very unfair to themselves. Why should they pay the entire value ol a building pulled down on which they hold tlie risk when they do not reap the entire advantageA number of the adjacent uninsured proprietors would be benefited equally with themselves, but these would go tree. Tlie fact is, some plan analogous to the ''general averaire" svstein pursued with regard" to nautiral al fairs" must lie; devised. Tile principle involved in this is simple—the cost of a voluntary snerilice must be borne by all in whose interest it is made —aud the only ditiiculty lies in the details lof its application. I.et the companies bring all their practical knowh-ilgu ami skill to bear upon these points, aiid they may yet succeed in forcing Mr. Kerferd to redeem liis promise. \\ e must not lose sight of the fact, however, that the duty ot devising measures necessary for the safety of life and property rightly falls 011 the ("iovernment, and the failure of the insurance companies to furnish suggestions will not lessen its responsibility. The Ministry knows that if something be not done immediately, the companies will seriously consider the advisability of breaking up the band of liremen they have hitherto maintained, and allow the public an opportunity of seeing what lire can do when left entirely to its own devices. Although the force at present under the command of .Superintendent Hoad is ridiculously small and has proved itself singularly efficient, people lie down at night with some sort of an assurance that should they unfortunately awake to find their house in flames, everything will be done which can be accomplished by competent men aud a first-rate water supply to extricate them from their troubles. We trust that the Government will not compel tlie companies to enforce attention to their just demands in the way pointed out. Should they be driven to extremities, however, and the consequence be a. heavy public calamity, the Ministry 111 ay rest assured that its political exigencies will not be regarded as constituting a, valid excuse for its neglect of tile ordinary business of administration.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4045, 29 October 1874, Page 6
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1,030FIRE BRIGADES AND INSURANCE COMPANIES. New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4045, 29 October 1874, Page 6
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