FIRE INQUIRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21875, 10 August 1934, Page 14

FIRE INQUIRY

* DELIBERATELY CAUSED " FINDING BY CORONER PSURANCE METHOD CRITICISED ' NO INSPECTION MADE |SY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON". Thursday "Insurance brokers no doubt have their reasons for the business methods they adopt, but it seems to me that a system which enables goods to bo grossly over-insured, as these goods were, places a premium on incendiarism and creates a potential danger to all premises in tho locality," said Mr. E. Page, S.M., in a written decision delivered to-day regarding an inquiry at which lie acted as coroner into the fire at No. 122 Vivian Street on June 17. Mr. Page was referring to a policy covering the belongings of one of tho tenants, P. G. Brazier, which was issued without an inspection being made by the brokers, who were also without any previous knowledge of Brazier. The coroner's finding was that the fire was deliberately caused, but that there was nothing to show by whose hand. The coroner also referred to the good service rendored by the fire brigade in saving the premises. Three Separate Outbreaks "The evidence regarding the origin of the fire," said Mr. Page, "shows that separate outbreaks occurred simultaneously in three different rooms of tho house, that the fire proved stubborn and difficult to subdue and that when .the brigade entered, heavy petrol fumes permeated the whole building. Tins that Jiad their tops torn open and contained petrol were found to have been placed and to have been ignited in different parts of the house, two of them being placed on different parts of a staircase. That the fire was intentionally caused there can be no doubt.

"The whole of the premises (excepting one small shop) was in the occupation of one P. G. Brazier, who used tho main shop as a boot repairing establishment and the balance of the promises as a boarding house. He had in the premises furniture, stock and effects which, according to a valuation made after the fire, by two valuers, one appointed by him and one by the insurance brokers, were worth prior to the fire £75 Is 3d, but which, when this .valuation is weighed along with other evidence given at this inquiry, were probably worth considerablj' less than that sum. „ Insurance Without Inspection "One month before the fire, he had obtained an insurance over this furniture, etc., for the sum of £2OO. Brazier, who wast some two months in arrear with his rent, appears to be the only person who would be liable to profit by the burning down of these premises.

"The cover was issued by a firm of insurance brokers who, acting for English insurance underwriters, issued it without any inspection of the furniture and without any previous knowledge of Brazier., They state that their practice is to inspect properties only in the case of insurance over commercial undertakings, and that insurances are taken on residences and op furniture without any inspection or any valuation other than that supplied by the applicant. They say that if there is a fire, even with total destruction of the goods, the assured must still prove his loss, and can only, recover the amount of his proved ■ loss.

"That may be so," continued Mr. Page, "though in the event of a total loss one would think that, without an inspection or valuation prior to the loss, the insurance brokers might have difficulty in checking the nature and .value of the goods said to have been destroyed."