MARINE WAR RISKS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 4942, 16 September 1914, Page 6

MARINE WAR RISKS.

TO ATD SMALL SHIPPERS. Electric Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A Bill was introduced in the House last night by Governor’s Message to cover against marine w«r risks. Explaining the Bill, the At-torney-General pointed out that after war had broken out great difficulty had been experienced in getting insurances upon cargoes. The Government had arranged with the Imperial Government for insurances on produce in troopships up to £13,000, and the Bill proposed to validate this action. The Bill also proposed to give the Government power to insure gold exported to Australia up to £IO.OOO. They (also proposed to ask for power to. insure small cargoes to the Old Country up to £SOOO. Sir Joseph Ward said he doubted if the Bill would effect its purpose. Ho had repeatedly drawn attention to the matter at the outbreak of war, hut he could got no satisfaction from the Government. Tn the meantime the Kaiparo had been sunk, and if the shippers by that vessel had waited for the Government they would have lost their consignments. We ought to have done what the British Government had done, and taken some of tho risk ourselves. The cover off £50(10 on ome vessel was 'too small. It was of vital imortance to keep our export trade going, but this Bill would not help to do sfo. Mr Massey, replying, said larger shippers could get the benefit of Tmerial war risks, but this Bill was do sired to aid small shippers. It might ho true that the limit of £SOOO was too low, hut that was a, committee objection and did not affect the priueiple of the Bill, for the introduction of which the Government ought to receive tho approval of the House, instead of carping criticism. Tho War Risks Insurance Bill was read a first time.