GERALDINE FIRE INSURANCE RATES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5541, 25 July 1907, Page 4

GERALDINE FIRE INSURANCE RATES.

A well-attended meeting of tradespeople, property o\\nors, mid others interested was held in the shamnolders’ room at the ‘ Canterbury i armors Co-op., Oerakliine, on Monday night, to discuss the question of the proposed increase of lire insurance mtes in the borough. Mis Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Maling) occupied the chair, and introduced the subject hv reading a uotiheutiion which a local agent had received stating that at tire last meeting of the Underwriters’ Association a resolution was passed that in view of the occurrence of Tires in Geraldine a recommendation no made to the Underwriters’ Council that the rates in the town he increased by raising thorn to Tariff “F. n Mr Maling said that in the opinion of all business men he had spohen to this I was a retrograde step. Geraldine was formerly iimder Tariff “F.” and had been brought down to “C” through the high-pressure water system, and I the up-10-dato plant and efficiency oi the Fire Brigade. The inspector was •sent from Christchurch and was thoroughly satisfied with the moutas the Borough possessed for coping with any outbreak of lire. Ihe conditions which prevailed then were not changed for worse, but had been improved considerably by ujii increase hi the tariff of “F” meant a big increase o'f water supply. Reverting to the old rates, and would fall heavily on property owners, who were contributing to the upkeep of water works in the hope of a reduced lire rate. One could liaidly understand why the underwriters had taken up such a positiion. The captain of the Geraldine Film Bril gade had, prepared a table which showed that comparatively speaking the Underwriters during the past four years had lost very little through suppo'sed incendiarism. In the case of the Geraldine school lire the insurance companies had no risk, and the Jims in which they had been hit were of no magnitude. The only fir© in .which they had made anything like a loss was that of the co-operative stores, which might not have ,becn the act of the supposed lire raiser. Mr G. B. Crecmer (manager C.F.A.) (Jointed out that the lire scare had induced a great many people in Geraldine to insure who had newer insured before, and those who already insured had largely increased their cover. This meant a decided benefit to the Underwriter)! in die way ,-of extra premiums. Another thing which they should lake into account was the fact, ihit a pennan nt night policeman had been appoint'd to Geraldine. 'the town also had a mom efficient brigade than they ever had before, and the water supply with the new reservoir to increase the pressure made the conditions even more favorable titan when the inspector visited Geraldine, and the rates were lowered, lie thought (hat a strongly-worded protest .should be stilt to the Underwriters Council, and he proposed that a resolution \be drawn up by n'sub-eom-mittee consisting of -Messrs J. Maling, T. iSlicrratt, and (he mover.

2\ir T. r.'li'.i’ral l seconded the resolution, mid a discussion leoh place as to whether it wem-M not bo as well to approach the Government Eire Insurance Depart meat in the event of the Underwriters taking the proposed tept to raise the, rates. One speaker said he believed the Government Etro Insurance Department as 'veil ns the Government Accident Jnsurance Depart mart ""ere, working hand and glove with the other companies. Mr hi. TT. Logan drew attention to the fact that whenever a lire occurred in Geraldine, it was always got hi hand -by iho brigade before it did damage to adjoining properties. This spoke well for the 'brigade and the isfiiipmout. lie did not kavow of another town in Now Zealand that could boast of this. The resolution was then carried. TELEPHONE TO EUAPUNA.

His Worship the Mayor thought it a fitting time while business people were assembled rto bring up the 'que.stion of telephones, lie had received a letter from Mr Elatmau, member for the district, stating that his application for telephone communication between South Canterbury and Ashburton would bo refused, and advising Genii (lino people to urge Tiinnru business mou to mo v o in the mutter. Mr Mal'ing said it had occurred to him that it would- lie a good thing for the/ district if telephone communication' was established between Arundel and Oarew. By this means Geraldine people could speak to Ruapuna, and whh another small connection between there and Mayfield they could get through to Ashburton. ■ The cost woui'cTbe very small, for less than two miles of posts 'between Arundel and Oarew would be sufficient. Already there was a telephone line between Oarew and Ealing, whioh was practically useless to Ruapuna people, and part of this lino could be made use of to reach lluapuna from Arundel. A g'opd deal of business was done 'by Geraldine business people with Ruapuna, and it would mean an extension of trade if they bad the telephone. It was resolved that a committee, consisting of the Mayor and Messrs 0. B. Crocmcr, T. Shemitt, 'and W. Thomas draw up an application to be sent through Mr Elatmau to the Govonimcnt asking that the line in 'question be granted w th the ultimate o'), ject of securing communication with Ashburton. The meeting terminated with a.vote, of (hanks to the chairman for presiding, and to Mr Croemer for the use of the room.