STATE FIRE OFFICE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16703, 21 July 1928, Page 14

STATE FIRE OFFICE

"SPLENDID INSTITUTION" EXAMPLE OF STATE CONTROL (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. On the motion nf the Hon. \V. Noswoiihy (lie State Pire Insurance A iiieudmeiil Hill was introduced in the lions; 1 this afternoon, and read a firsl time. Mr. .1. A. Lee said he hoped the Minister would give the House an as sunnier that the measure would make this splendid institution increasingly popular in its competition with other fire insurance offices. It was a splendid Slate enterprise, but it was a curious thing that the Liberal Party, which established it, was now the paily most determinedly opposed to similar State enterprises. Since it had been operating it had saved the people of New Zealand upwards of £-1.000.000, besides rendering other services to the Government, yet in (lie face of this glorious enterprise, we heard the parrot cry "Where are we lo get the nibnev from'' to es-

tablish similar State enterprises. He irusted that the Bill now introduced

was intended to furthir increase tin efficiency of this desirable insliln

Mr. G. W. Forbes said Hie State Fire Department was lagging behind other nliii-i s. Lower quotations could be got in Xew Zealand cheaper than the State office would give. Co-operative

insurance was gaining a great footing among farmers, and one other big combination was able lo give much lower rates. These were new features since the Stale Fire Office had started, but they now had to be met, and he hoped the Minister would show he was in charge of a live department..