MOTOR ACCIDENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19135, 2 October 1936, Page 7

MOTOR ACCIDENTS

CONCERN AT INCREASE THE INSURANCE ASPECT HEAVY CLAIMS TOTAL C'oneern :ii iho increasing number of motor accidents in tho Dominion was expressed ):y Mr. B. L. Donne, chairman of rlirerto'rs of the North Island Motor Union Insurance Company, when, speaking at. the eighth annnal ineoting in Auckland. Tliere was an attendance of about. 50. Mr. A. Grayson commenting l hat the small attendance would appear lo indicate, general, satisfaction with the control of the company. "I must emphasise the seriousness of the position, in. New Zealand," Mr. Donne said. "Naturally." with, more vehicles using the roads,'a greater number of accidents is to be expected, but the number and seriousness of these is out. of all. proportion to the increase in traffic." The illustrate the truth or his remarks. Mr. Donne quoted the following figures, showing the ratio of claims pay-outs to the net premium income for bis company in the years mentioned :—1929, W.o per cent'; 1930, 7.9.4 ; 1931-, 14.18; m 7.?, 55.14; 1933. 63.6; 1,924, 47.7; 1035, 58; 1955, 72.7. The years in each rape ended on June of). Mr. Donne said if was gratifying to 'find the Minister of Transport, the lion. li. 'Roniplo., taking such 'an intense interest in the question of reducing accidents. It also was satisfactory to see that, two representatives of the automobile association had been appointed to the recently4'ormod' National (Safety Council.

Reverting to the matter of risks, -Mr. Donne said the last statement issued by the Government, Statistician dealing with results achieved by all insurers mulct' the Motor Vehicles insurance (Third Party Risks) Act, 1928. showed thai in 1935". for every £ICO they received in premiums the companies -dealing in this business had to pay out- J 3136, the average for the six. completed years since the inception of the Act- being £B4. "There can l:e no doubt that unless the position regarding motoring accidents improves very considerably, motorists will be faced'with substantial increases in the premiums for compulsory third party insurance." he said.