FIRE BOARDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8365, 27 February 1913, Page 9

FIRE BOARDS

CHANGE IN FINANCIAL SYSTEM NECESSARY. Press Association, AUCixLaaiJ, i'ebmary 26. The financial oasis ot luo Roards Was discusscu to-aay Oy xoe non. E. M. R. fiisiiCi-, iVumsLcr iu charge of tue toiaie r ire Insurance Uiuce. iu oomuiauiiog on the opinions expressed at tue 1* ire Roam s Uouierence in lynnstcuurch regarding tue holding ol inquests upon the causes ol tires, Mr Fisher said no had recently obtained a fairly lengthy report dealing with the subject oi hro inquests. One objection to the proposal that inquiries should bo made regarding the causes ot all fires was-that the proceeding would be much more costly than the delegates to the conference appeared to imagine. It would probably be found that if the Government was to attempt to hold inquiries regarding all fires the annual expenditure would be about £7OOO. 'The most effective means of chocking losses by fire was for the insurance companies to make better inspection of their risks and exercising greater care in undertaking business. A fair percentage of the fire loss was attributable to the keenness of insurance companies ito obtain business, leading them to accept risks which they would not take if greater care was exorcised. Even if the cost of the inquiries foil Upon the Fire Boards the position would hardly be satisfactory, as the Fire Boards are maintained by people who take the precaution to insure themselves against fires. This appears to be another legislative error of the past, by which absolutely a false principle has been raised. The careful and thrifty man contributes towards the upkeep of the fire brigade, which, when occasion arises, is used to extinguish a fire in the house of a man who, since he has paid no insurances, contributes nothing towards the maintenance of the fire brigade. The same principle has been embodied in the old age pensions scheme. The existing law will not allow a pension to be given to a man who lias been thrifty, but rewards it to the man who has been thriftless, and possibly indolent. These matters are not going to he altered in a week or m month, because the whole finnnenn| basis will have to be altered. Nevertheless, _a change in the financial system of Fire Boards will have to be wind*.