VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19608, 9 April 1927, Page 13

VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE.

ASSESSMENT IN AMERICA.

RISING AND DECLINING SCALE.

IMPORTANCE OF PURE WATER.

Amusement was caused at the sitting of the Water Commission yesterday, when reference was made by a witness to the method of assessing the value of a human life adopted in the United States. Mr. A. J. Parker, public analyst, stated that the financial aspect of any water supply was a large factor, not fully realised in Auckland. In many parts of the United States a monetary value was placed on citizens, and the responsibility of water boards was worked out on this basis. Their duty was to supply pure water, not likely to cause infection or death from disease. "In a recent American publication they do attempt to put down the loss of human life in money," remarked the chairman, Mr. A. W. Blair. "I see £3OO is the value of a child at five years of age. This increases to £ISOO between the ages of 25 and 30, and decreases to £2OO between the age? of 65 and 70. Mr. Johnstone: What is the value after 70 years. The Chairman: You are worth £ISOO now. Mr. Parker added that it was the duty of bodies controlling a water supply to see that the chance of infection was reduced. Monetary assessment of the„ value of a life was, therefore, a good system, and one that could well be adopted. A water board or council was not only faced with supplying watei which would not cause fatal disease, but also other maladies, involving medical expenses.