State Fire Insurance.

Opunake Times, Volume VII, Issue 340, 10 December 1897, Page 2

State Fire Insurance.

The Premier replying to the Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, who asked whether, learning of the extraordinary exlra light being thrown upon the important subject of fire insurance, both in London and Melbourne, he intends shortly to introduce his State Fire Insurance Bill, yesterday he said: "I think what has happened in Melbourne and London—and Melboure particularly—goes far to show the necessity thero is for a Government Fire Insurance Bill being pas-sed. (" Hear, hear? " •' No ! " and uproar.) These in Melbourne they have, I know —because I have personally inspected it—one of the best brigades iu the colony, and here is a building burning for a long period without being noticed and almost beyond the control of brigade when tackled. I say the position in New Zealand in respect to fires is simply deplorable. As regards fire brigades, I say there is a necessity for them being put on a proper footing and fully equipped with up-to-date appliances, and without that we here in this country, with almost all wooden buildings, are in a most deplorable position ; and I say the copiug with fires and insurance should be dealt with by the State. ("Hear, hear.") Some of these days, unless this is done wo shall have a repetition of the Melbourne fire ; and the Bill in that respect will deal with that phase of the question. The Premier went on to say, in respect to premiums that the insurance companies had nothing to complain about in this respect. He had one company in his mind which had received £00,009 any paid out about £IO,OOO. He said that if they had properly equipped fire brigades fire insurance was a perfectly safe thing for the State to undertake.—N.Z. Times,